Protesters in Tbilisi protested against police violence.
A mass picket calling for the release of all prisoners of conscience took place in Tbilisi on the 548th day of continuous pro-European protests. Activists marched outside the parliament building with posters against police violence.
As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," participants in a rally on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi on the 547th day of continuous protests on May 28 called for a fight against the Georgian Dream regime and supported demands for the purchase of medication for children with Duchenne syndrome.
Supporters of Georgia's European integration, carrying national and EU flags, marched outside the parliament building on Rustaveli Avenue for the 548th consecutive evening.
The posters held by those gathered were dedicated to protesting state violence: "Who to call when the police are violent," "The system must be destroyed," and "In this country, the police are criminals," according to posts by photographer Mo Se and Georgian media outlets on Facebook*.
The traditional rally outside parliament was preceded by a mass picket demanding the release of political prisoners, which took place today near the Samgori metro station. Picketers gathered near a large banner with the main slogan "Freedom for prisoners of conscience," but their speeches also touched on other protest themes. Activists held signs reading: "You won't teach us to fight for our homeland," "Freedom doesn't come easy," "Pension - plus 20 lari, parliamentarian's salary - 7,000 lari," "We can save 100 children," and "Fight before it's too late."
A Tbilisi court today sentenced 61-year-old protester Zurab Menteshashvili to nine months in prison for repeatedly blocking a road. Menteshashvili has already been in prison for seven months and will be released in two months, Publika reports.
"I love my homeland, I will do everything for it, and if this was a crime, I didn't know... I'm standing here and can't do anything else. Arrest me a fourth time if you want." “I am from Kakheti, and stubbornness is my defining characteristic,” the elderly activist said before the verdict was announced.
Zurab Menteshashvili was arrested on November 1, 2025. The charge he was charged with (Part 1 of Article 347 of the Criminal Code of Georgia) carries a sentence of up to one year in prison. Participants in the Rustaveli protests appealed to the Prosecutor General's Office requesting a change in Menteshashvili's pretrial detention, but their petition was ignored.
Protesters in Georgia have been demanding new parliamentary elections and the release of political prisoners since November 28, 2024. Security forces carried out violent dispersals of the protests, using tear gas and water cannons, and detained protesters. Thousands of people were subjected to administrative prosecution during the protests. "Caucasian Knot" A report entitled "The Main Thing About the Persecution of Protest Participants in Georgia" has been prepared.