Pro-European rallies in Georgia continue for 660 days

Participants of the rallies in Batumi and Tbilisi on the 660th day of protests demanded the release of political prisoners. One of them, doctor Georgy Chakhunashvili, was released today as part of a plea deal with the prosecution.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", on September 17, activists in Tbilisi and Batumi demanded the change of Georgia's political course and the release of political prisoners for the 659th consecutive day. The opposition announced a mass march on September 27 in connection with the Day of Defense of Sukhumi.

Those gathered in Tbilisi held placards saying "How much longer will the people endure", "For open court hearings", "Don't stop the fight", "Russians, you are not welcome here", and "Freedom for Zviad Tsetskhladze", according to photos published by photographer Georgy Mosiashvili (Mo Se).

One of the placards ironically depicted citizens as hostages of the "Georgian Dream" and read "Bidzina, name the ransom amount, we will collect it."

A daily protest also took place outside the Constitutional Court of Georgia in Batumi. There, demonstrators had a placard saying "Freedom for the regime's prisoners", according to a publication by Batumelebi.

Today, one of the Georgian political prisoners - 72-year-old pediatrician, Doctor of Medical Sciences Georgy Chakhunashvili, who was previously sentenced to five years for attempting to storm the presidential palace on the day of the municipal elections on October 4, 2025, was released.

He entered into a plea agreement with the prosecution and was released from the courtroom. Under the terms of the agreement, Chakhunashvili was sentenced to three months of actual imprisonment and three years of probation, writes Tbilisi_life.

Another individual sentenced to five years alongside Chakhunashvili, Zakro Albutashvili, also entered into a plea agreement with the prosecution and is expected to be released in October. "According to the new terms, he must spend one year in prison, after which he is sentenced to three years of probation," the publication states.

Georgia's Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze stated today that there are no "prisoners of conscience" in the country, and convicted participants of the protests can be released from prison if they acknowledge the crimes they committed and repent.

"We are ready to forgive each of them if they show remorse and acknowledgment (...) They will leave prison, no matter how serious the crime they committed at the time. I mean the violence they used during the protests," Kobakhidze's words are quoted by "News Georgia".

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