Protests against the "Georgian Dream" continue in Tbilisi for the 638th consecutive day.
Supporters of Georgia's Eurointegration held a protest in Tbilisi for the 638th consecutive day. Fridon Bubuteishvili, convicted for participating in protests against the foreign agents law, has been included in the list of those pardoned.
As reported by "Caucasian Knot", on August 26, on the 637th day of continuous protests, it became known that 69-year-old active protest participant Shota Odishvili was arrested for 15 days for insulting police officers.
Today marks the 638th day of continuous protests. Participants gathered near the Parliament and City Council buildings in Tbilisi. The attendees demand a return to the Euro-Atlantic course, the release of political prisoners, and the conduct of elections in a free and fair environment, reports the publication Publika.
Participants held flags of Georgia, the European Union, Ukraine, and the USA. Some participants held placards: "Russia is an occupier", "Bidzina, you should also leave", "Mr. Oligarch, whose turn is it to lose their job?", "Freedom to Afghan Sadigov", according to a publication by photographer MO SE on Facebook*.
Fridon Bubuteishvili, convicted for participating in protests against the foreign agents law, has been included in the list of those pardoned. According to sources, he will leave prison in the coming hours. The information was provided to TV Pirveli by family members of the prisoners and civil activists.
On January 21, 2025, the court sentenced participants of the protest against the foreign agents law in 2024, Omar Okribelashvili and Saba Meparishvili, to three years in prison; however, due to the amnesty declared by the president, their actual prison time was reduced to 10 months and one year of probation. Another activist, Fridon Bubuteishvili, also arrested during the protest against the foreign agents law, was sentenced to five years in prison. The prosecution accused him of damaging the gates of the parliament and throwing a stone at a firefighter.
Today, the President of Georgia, Mikheil Kavelashvili, pardoned 226 convicted individuals on the occasion of the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Mariamoba. Six of those pardoned were serving sentences not related to imprisonment, while 217 were in prisons. Three others had their convictions annulled, reports Newsgeorgia.
Materials on the protests against the "On Transparency of Foreign Influence" bill are published by the "Caucasian Knot" on the thematic page "Georgia: foreign agents and protests".
Since November 28, 2024, participants in the protests in Georgia have been demanding new parliamentary elections and the release of political prisoners. Law enforcement has conducted harsh crackdowns on protests, using tear gas and water cannons, and detaining protesters. During the protests, thousands of people have faced administrative prosecution. The "Caucasian Knot" has prepared a report "Main points on the prosecution of protest participants in Georgia".