Over 400 Arrested in Tbilisi Pro-European Protests; No Police Officers Held Accountable for Violence
Since the start of the pro-European protests on November 28 in Tbilisi, over 400 individuals have been detained, with no police officers facing the consequences for alleged violence, according to the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Aleksandre Darakhvelidze.
Darakhvelidze reported that more than 30 individuals have been criminally charged with the protests. Additionally, 372 people have been arrested under administrative law, 62 sentenced to administrative detention and over 100 fined. Court proceedings are ongoing for the remaining detainees.
The protests, marked by mass participation, have been met with reports of severe police brutality. Transparency International Georgia claims that approximately 400 protestors have been subjected to beatings, torture, and ill-treatment by law enforcement, with over 80 requiring hospitalization for their injuries.
The organization further alleges that judicial processes are heavily biased, relying solely on police testimonies while disregarding evidence presented by defendants’ legal teams. Judges have reportedly denied detainees the opportunity to testify about the beatings and torture they endured, dismissing such claims as irrelevant to the cases at hand.
To date, no police officers have been held accountable for the alleged violence and mistreatment of protestors, raising significant concerns about impunity and justice.
Journalist Maka Chikhladze Attacked by Alleged Government-Controlled Assailants
On the night of December 7, journalist Maka Chikhladze and cameraman Giorgi Shetsiruli were physically assaulted by masked individuals dressed in black near the Georgian parliament on Besiki Street. The attackers, believed to be linked to government interests, targeted the pair while they were reporting live.
Video footage shows several masked assailants pushing Giorgi Shetsiruli to the ground and kicking him in the head. According to Chikhladze, the camera crew had gone to Besiki Street after receiving reports that unidentified individuals were blocking people from attending a nearby rally.
The Special Investigation Service has launched an investigation into the incident.
Simultaneously, black-masked individuals attacked the office of the “Coalition for Change” on Besiki Street, physically assaulting coalition member and former MP Koba Khabazi along with two other individuals.
Actor Giorgi Makharadze was also assaulted in the area by masked attackers. He reported that police officers witnessed the attack but failed to intervene or offer assistance.
In response to the attack on journalists, Mamuka Mdinaradze, parliamentary majority leader, commented on pro-government Imedi TV, stating there is a “99% chance this was a deliberate provocation,” dismissing it as stemming from “a dead battery.”
The series of assaults has sparked outrage, raising concerns about press freedom, government accountability, and the safety of individuals participating in public discourse.
Tbilisi Mayor Kaladze Accuses Zelensky of Serving Foreign Interests Amid Sanctions
On December 5, the Ukrainian government imposed sanctions on senior Georgian officials, including Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky justified the sanctions by emphasizing the strategic importance of regional unity, stating, “No one can be lost in this region—neither Georgia, nor Moldova, nor Ukraine.” He warned that without decisive action against the Georgian Dream government, the region risks losing decades of progress and its freedom.
In response, Kaladze echoed a Russian narrative on December 6, accusing Zelensky of serving foreign interests.
“I try to put myself in Zelensky’s shoes,” Kaladze remarked. “I wouldn’t wish anyone, even an enemy, to be in his position. He does not belong to himself, his family, or, most importantly, Ukraine and its people. He serves the interests of another country. I am confident that the Ukrainian people will soon understand and analyze everything—what processes occurred and with whose support the tragedy happening in Ukraine today unfolded,” Kaladze stated.
The comments have sparked controversy, as they align with rhetoric often used by Russian officials to undermine Ukraine’s leadership and the country’s ongoing resistance to Russian aggression. The sanctions and the resulting statements have further strained relations between Georgia and Ukraine, both of which face critical challenges in safeguarding their sovereignty.