Since 18 October, when the Georgian Dream government introduced new regulations aimed at suppressing protests, not a single day has passed in Tbilisi City Court without around ten protesters from the previous days’ rallies being put on trial.

A second new judge has now joined the process. Earlier, reports covered Davit Makaradze – assigned to Tbilisi City Court temporarily from Gori. On 24 November, as the court began reviewing cases of ten protesters detained on 22 November, another newly appointed judge, Tornike Kapanadze, also took part. Kapanadze was permanently appointed in 2024 and transferred from the Ozurgeti District Court to Tbilisi in November.

Kapanadze reviewed the cases of three young protesters: Mariam Meqantishvili, Oto Iremadze, and Luka Chokhonelidze.

The detainees faced charges of petty hooliganism (which the Interior Ministry claims was expressed through verbal insults), disobeying police orders, and insulting police officers. Luka Chokhonelidze received five days of administrative detention, while Oto Iremadze was fined 3,000 GEL.

Iremadze stated in court that he had committed no offense:

“I had just arrived 20 seconds later they detained me simply because I happened to be there when others were being taken. Before they received a phone call, officers couldn’t even explain why I was being detained.”

The police witness in his case, officer Rati Ghoghzadze, claimed Iremadze’s “hooliganism” consisted of chanting “unfair court, Ivanishvili’s court,” while “insulting police” referred to chants such as “Russian police, slaves of Russia.”

Meqantishvili’s case also included a separate allegation dating back to 2 September that she verbally confronted “Post TV” employee Natia Kvaratskhelia and hindered her from covering a rally. Meqantishvili and her lawyer learned about this charge only during the hearing. Although Kvaratskhelia was present in the courthouse hallway beforehand, she was no longer on site when the judge called for her examination, so the hearing was postponed to 26 November. Meqantishvili was released from administrative detention in the meantime.

Meqantishvili is also facing charges related to the 4 October protest and is currently out on bail. She is a mother of a minor.

In another case, Judge Manuchar Tsatsua, who has handled dozens of protest-related cases, sentenced Davit Gunashvili to five days’ detention. He also fined Zura Mirtskhulava 5,000 GEL.

Judge Nino Enukidze sentenced Giorgi Savanelli to five days of detention and fined him an additional 100 GEL for failing to stand when the judge entered the courtroom.

Judge Davit Makaradze, assigned from Gori, fined Sopo Markozia 3,000 GEL and placed Giorgi Balkhamishvili in five-day detention.

Judge Zviad Tsekvava fined TV Pirveli journalist Giorgi Mamniashvili 3,000 GEL on charges of petty hooliganism and disobedience, despite video evidence showing him explaining to police that he was performing his journalistic duties. Mamniashvili’s lawyer later revealed that the journalist had been subjected to degrading treatment in the detention facility, including forced stripping and physical exercises, and denied contact with counsel. The ruling will be appealed in both the Court of Appeals and the European Court of Human Rights.

Judge Koba Chagunava fined Lida Tzomaia 2,000 GEL; Tzomaia displayed visible injuries from the moment of her detention.

Later on 24 November, police detained another eight protesters Luka Khizadze, Data Kashiashvili, Lado Gamqrelidze, Giorgi Quruashvili, Dato Lomidashvili, Erekle Koplatadze, Irakli Modebadze, and Avto Mikadze while they marched near Freedom Square. Police did not explain the grounds for their detention. Their cases are likely to be reviewed on 25 November.

Since Georgian Dream tightened repressive protest regulations on 18 October, over 100 people have been detained under the pretext of “artificial road obstruction,” with penalties ranging from 1 to 15 days of administrative detention. Under the new rules, repeated road blockage after serving an initial detention triggers criminal liability and up to one year in prison.

So far, the only protester against whom criminal proceedings have been initiated on these grounds is Zura Mentashashvili, who remains in pre-trial detention and has been on hunger strike since 1 November.

After road-blocking became impossible under the stricter rules, protesters turned to alternative forms of expression, such as marching near Rustaveli Avenue. Police responded with numerous forceful detentions, often from sidewalks, citing “verbal insults” and “disobedience.” Many arrests occurred precisely during episodes when police escalated force against demonstrators.