Protesters in Tbilisi declared victory in the fight for children's treatment.
Georgian authorities agreed to prepare a procurement plan for medications for children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, after which parents ended their protest outside the government administration building. Participants in a rally outside the Georgian parliament on the 554th day of continuous protests demanded an end to the deportation of a refugee from Iran.
As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," on June 3, parents of children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy secured a meeting with the country's prime minister, but continued their protest demanding medication for their children.
Protesters on Rustaveli Avenue regularly support demands for modern medications for children with Duchenne syndrome, whose parents have been holding a non-stop, round-the-clock protest outside the government administration building since April 20. According to the organization "Together Fighting Duchenne Dystrophy," there are approximately 100 children with this diagnosis in Georgia. Three of them have died recently, one of the most recent deaths occurred in early March, Tbilisi_life notes.
Supporters of Georgia's European integration gathered outside the parliament building on Rustaveli Avenue this evening for the 554th day in a row. Activists brought national and EU flags, and some also carried US and Israeli flags.
At least 80 people participated in the protest outside parliament. One protester held a poster reading "Struggle Always Makes Sense," according to a Facebook post by photographer Giorgi Mosiashvili (Mo Se)*.
Several activists held a picket outside parliament demanding an end to the deportation of political refugees to Iran, Mtavari reports.
They held posters with a portrait of Hadi Rostami, an Iranian political activist who lived in Georgia for many years and now faces deportation to his homeland. Immigration police detained Rostami on June 2 and informed him that his legal stay in Georgia had expired.
"The political activist was detained due to the failure to renew his residence permit and problems with his asylum application after living in the country for many years," Publika quoted an informed source as saying.
According to the Iranian ambassador to Georgia, the Iranian citizen was arrested after breaking a window in the embassy's consular section.
"According to Georgian law, the individual will be detained for six months, and after paying a fine, will be deported from Georgia and will be denied the right to return to the country," Interpressnews quoted Ambassador Seyed Ali Mojani as saying.
Parents of children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy concluded their protest outside the government office today, which had been ongoing around the clock since April 20. Georgian authorities have agreed to prepare for the procurement of medications for children with Duchenne syndrome, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced after a meeting with their parents.
“We have agreed on specific medications, which we will begin work on. The final decision will be made taking into account various factors, including the terms offered by pharmaceutical companies,” Kobakhidze stated.
Kakha Tsikarishvili, the father of one of the children with Duchenne, announcing the end of the protests, said that the march in Tbilisi scheduled for Sunday, June 7, will be a “gratitude action” to everyone who supported their demands.
"A march is planned for Sunday to thank our supporters, all of Georgia, and the government that made this decision," Novosti Georgia quotes him as saying.
Parents and their supporters called the decision to purchase medications for children with Duchenne syndrome a victory.
"We told you we would force the government to provide the medications. It turns out parents are fighting for their children's lives. It turns out these medications could have been purchased and are certified. Our demands for the release of political prisoners and new, fair elections will also be met. We wish everyone a swift victory," activist Nana Tokhvadze said during a rally on Rustaveli Avenue.
Protesters in Georgia have been demanding new parliamentary elections and the release of political prisoners since November 28, 2024. Security forces violently dispersed the protests, using tear gas and water cannons, and detained protesters. Thousands of people were subjected to administrative prosecution during the protests. The "Caucasian Knot" has prepared a report, "The Main Thing About the Persecution of Protest Participants in Georgia."