Tbilisi and Kutaisi demand the release of political prisoners

Participants in the rally outside the Georgian Parliament and the march in Kutaisi demanded the release of arrested and convicted "prisoners of the regime." A lawsuit has been filed with the ECHR by 13 protesters who were persecuted for expressing dissent with the government's policies.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," on March 26, the 484th day of continuous protests outside the Georgian Parliament, activists protested administrative arrests for blocking the sidewalk and announced a solidarity march with Elene Khoshtaria. On the 485th day of protests, participants in the rally outside the Georgian Parliament told the authorities that "intimidation will not work." A march demanding the release of political prisoners, including Droa Party leader Elene Khoshtaria, took place on the 486th day of daily protests.

Today marks the 487th day of continuous protests in Tbilisi. The protest is demanding the release of regime prisoners, Publika reported. According to photos attached to the post, activists holding Georgian and EU flags gathered outside the Georgian parliament building.

A protest march demanding the release of political prisoners took place today in Kutaisi, according to photographer Mo Se. He posted photographs of the protesters marching, holding flags of Georgia, the European Union, and the United States, along with portraits of those convicted of participating in the protests.

Lawyers filed a lawsuit in the European Court of Human Rights on behalf of 13 people detained for standing on the sidewalk, fined for social media posts, or arrested for participating in anti-government protests. The authorities have criminalized peaceful protests, and the sanctions imposed are disproportionately harsh, the lawsuit's authors claim, TV Pirveli reports.

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 have been 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".