Protesters in Tbilisi called to protect democracy and freedom of the press.
On the 716th day of continuous protests, supporters of European integration in Georgia dedicated their posters to the arrested journalist Vakho Sanaya and the late activist from Martvili, Mzisa Gabeshia.
As reported by "Caucasian Knot", on the 715th day of continuous protests on November 12, participants of the gathering in the center of Tbilisi criticized the fine imposed on singer Sofo Batiashvili for performing the protest song "Ole Ola". In recent days, demonstrators have also dedicated their posters to the memory of the elderly activist Mzisa Gabeshia, who conducted pro-European pickets alone in Martvili since 2024.
Citizens of Georgia today took to pro-European protests for the 716th evening in a row, gathering under the walls of parliament on Rustaveli Avenue and in front of the Tbilisi City Council building, reports Netgazeti.
Supporters of Eurointegration, as in all previous days, brought national flags and EU flags with them. Protesters held posters saying "Do not take away democracy", "Freedom of media", "Time for truth", "Kots – a man?" and "The city is full of crime", according to a series of photos on the page of photographer Giorgi Mosiashvili (Mo Se) on Facebook*.
One of the posters was again dedicated to Mzisa Gabeshia: "Mzisa, thank you for the struggle, we will win". Another poster reminded that journalist Vakho Sanaya has been in custody for 25 days. "Bidzina, on even days you are Papuashvili, on odd days – Bozhadze", is written on this poster.
In October, the Tbilisi City Court sentenced journalist Vakho Sanaya from "Formula" to 30 days of administrative arrest for publications on social media concerning the chairman of parliament Shalva Papuashvili and deputy Vladimir Bozhadze. The authors of the posters in support of the journalist have repeatedly hinted that the words about the two parliamentarians, which the court considered offensive, also apply to the founder of "Georgian Dream".
Earlier in the day, an action against animal cruelty took place in front of the Tbilisi City Hall. Its participants demanded punishment for those responsible for the mass killing of dogs caught on the streets of the capital.
"If society tolerates all this – saying, 'It's just a dog, nothing serious', – we will get to a point where potentially people will be killed tomorrow, and no one will react at all. In what society should we raise our children if we see how living beings are kidnapped and killed?" – quotes the speech of protest participant Levan Aleksidze, Publika.
Participants in the protests in Georgia have been demanding new parliamentary elections and the release of political prisoners since November 28, 2024. Law enforcement has conducted harsh dispersals of protests, using tear gas and water cannons, and detained protesters. During the protests, thousands of people have faced administrative prosecution. "Caucasian Knot" has prepared a reference "Main points on the persecution of protest participants in Georgia".