A quiet crackdown is sweeping through Tbilisi as authorities weaponize new laws to silence the streets. Police are now arbitrarily detaining citizens merely for standing on sidewalks, sparking urgent warnings from global watchdogs about the death of democracy in Georgia. This systematic suppression effectively criminalizes the right to assemble.
The New Legal Trap for Demonstrators
The rules of engagement for public dissent in Georgia changed drastically last month. Amendments passed on December 12 have handed law enforcement officers vague and sweeping powers to control public spaces.
The government claims these changes protect traffic and order. However, critics argue the language is designed to trap peaceful citizens.
Under the new regulations, the following restrictions apply:
- Advance Notice: Organizers must tell the Internal Affairs Ministry five days before any gathering on a road or sidewalk.
- Police Discretion: Officers can force a protest to move location or time within three days of that notice.
- Spot Orders: Police can issue immediate, binding instructions to disperse or move during an event.
This creates a legal gray area. Officers can now decide on a whim if a person standing on a curb is a threat to traffic.
Failure to obey isn’t just a warning. It is an administrative offense. Citizens face up to 15 days in detention. Organizers face up to 20 days.
Police Tactics Raise Human Rights Alarms
Since the law took effect, the atmosphere in Tbilisi has turned tense. Reports are flooding in regarding police abusing these powers to harass critics.
Giorgi Gogia serves as the deputy Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch. He states that the law is being enforced arbitrarily to push critical voices out of the public eye.
The case of Sandro Megrelishvili highlights this abuse.
Megrelishvili is a 35-year-old international relations specialist. On December 17, police detained him for standing on a sidewalk near parliament.
He was not blocking cars. He was not shouting violent threats.
Yet, on January 23, the Tbilisi City Court sentenced him to four days in detention. Authorities claimed he obstructed pedestrian movement and ignored orders.
Megrelishvili argues he was given no specific reason. Police simply told him he was in violation. He arrived after a general warning was given to a crowd, meaning he had no way of knowing he was breaking a rule.
“These measures do not protect public order. They suppress dissent.”
— Giorgi Gogia, Human Rights Watch
Evidence Ignored in Rush to Punish
The court proceedings for these detainees reveal a disturbing pattern. Judges appear to be ignoring hard evidence in favor of police testimony.
During Megrelishvili’s hearing, police presented surveillance footage. They claimed it showed obstruction.
However, the video showed something else entirely. Footage displayed other pedestrians moving freely past the defendant without any trouble.
There was no proof that anyone was blocked. There was no proof that people stepping into the road were connected to Megrelishvili.
This is not an isolated incident.
- Four other rulings were issued the same day with similar jail sentences.
- 30-year-old Giorgi Bulia faces trial soon for the same alleged act.
- Defense lawyers report that case files often contain zero evidence of actual obstruction.
In many cases, police video only shows officers making vague announcements to “clear the area.” They rarely specify which area or where people should go. This confusion allows them to arrest anyone remaining on the scene.
International Backlash and Future Risks
The international community is watching this development with growing concern. Georgia is a party to the European Convention on Human Rights.
This agreement requires the state to protect freedom of assembly. Restrictions must be necessary and proportional.
Current penalties for peaceful assembly violations:
| Offense Type | Potential Penalty |
|---|---|
| First Offense | Up to 15 days detention |
| Organizer Offense | Up to 20 days detention |
| Repeat Offense | Criminal liability / Up to 1 year prison |
The shift toward criminal liability is the most alarming aspect.
Judges have already begun terminating administrative cases to refer them for criminal investigation. This targets individuals with a history of protesting.
It effectively turns a misdemeanor into a felony.
The European Court of Human Rights recently ruled against Georgia in a similar case from 2023. They found the state violated rights to a fair trial.
Despite this, the government continues to double down. They deny detaining people for standing on sidewalks, insisting that “deliberate obstruction” is the cause. The video evidence suggests otherwise.
Democracy thrives on the ability to speak without fear. When standing on a sidewalk becomes a crime, the space for freedom shrinks to nothing.
Authorities must repeal these unjustified provisions immediately. If they do not, the jails will fill with peaceful citizens, and the streets of Tbilisi will fall silent for all the wrong reasons.
