Pro-European actions in Tbilisi continue for 604 days

Supporters of Georgia's Eurointegration demanded the release of political prisoners on the 604th day of continuous protests outside the parliament. A court in Tbilisi arrested doctor Georgy Akhobadze for 25 days on charges of insulting police officers.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", on July 23, on the 603rd day of protests in Georgia, participants of the rally outside the parliament went out onto the roadway, which the police had not allowed protesters to access since November 2025. The day before, on July 22, comedian Onise Okriashvili was beaten outside his home, and journalist Vaha Sanaya from "Formula" was arrested for 14 days for statements made against the speaker of parliament.

Citizens of Georgia gathered today in front of the parliament building in Tbilisi for the 604th consecutive evening, demanding the release of political prisoners, the repeal of repressive laws, and a shift in political course towards pro-European policies, reports Publika.

Protesters traditionally brought national flags and EU flags, and some activists had flags of Ukraine and the USA. Judging by a video posted on Facebook* by Tamar Bartaia, at least 70 people participated in the gathering.

Protesters held placards reading “Freedom for Vaho Sanaya,” “Freedom for regime prisoners,” “No to the Russian law,” and “Georgia will say goodbye to Russia!” according to photos published by photographer Georgy Mosiashvili (Mo Se) and Georgian media on Facebook*.

Support action for Onise Okriashvili

Friends and supporters of comedian Onise Okriashvili held a protest today outside the building of the Georgian Public Broadcaster. They expressed concerns for Okriashvili's safety, stating that pro-government channels “not only incite attacks on Okriashvili but actually send a direct signal for this.”

According to Okriashvili's supporters, a coordinated campaign to discredit him was conducted by pro-government TV channels Imedi, POSTV, and Rustavi 2 for a week prior to the attack.

“The attacker is publicly supported by MP Dito Samkharadze, who has himself repeatedly been involved in stories related to physical violence. MP Irakli Zarkua told a journalist that 'sometimes the police cannot protect you.' This is a direct signal to people prone to violence,” the participants of the action “Georgia Online” stated.

Arrest of Georgy Akhobadze

Also today, police arrested protest participant, doctor Georgy Akhobadze at his home and took him in handcuffs to a detention center based on a court order. The court sentenced Akhobadze to 25 days of administrative arrest on two counts - for insulting a police officer and for insulting a public official.

One of the cases concerned Akhobadze's posts on social media, while the other, according to the activist himself, was about the characterization he gave to police officers who refused to return his mobile phone seized in a criminal case.

“When I asked to return the phone, it had already been with them for a year, and no one had called me for three weeks. I told the Central Criminal Police Department who they are and how they behave,” Akhobadze's words were quoted by Pirveli.

"Caucasian Knot" reported that in December 2024, a court in Tbilisi detained resuscitation doctor Georgy Akhobadze, who was arrested after a protest and accused of drug possession. Akhobadze refused to plead guilty and stated that the drugs were planted on him by law enforcement. On August 6, 2025, the court found him not guilty and released him from custody. The prosecution appealed the acquittal.

Since November 28, 2024, protesters in Georgia have been demanding new parliamentary elections and the release of political prisoners. Law enforcement has conducted harsh dispersals of protests, using tear gas and water cannons, and arrested protesters. During the protests, thousands of people have faced administrative prosecution. "Caucasian Knot" has prepared a report titled "Main points on the persecution of protest participants in Georgia".