Georgian court sentences three protesters over “foreign agent” law
- 20 January, 15:03
A court in Georgian capital Tbilisi on Monday sentenced three protesters to various prison terms over their participation in May 2024 protests against the government’s controversial Foreign Agent Law.
Pridon Bubuteishvili was sentenced to five years in jail on charges of attacking a firefighter and damaging the parliament’s gates during the protests in Tbilisi last May. The 20-year-old was arrested on May 9 during the zenith of anti-government protests that swept through Georgia following the ruling party’s controversial law on foreign agents. Ten protesters were detained during thousands-strong rallies staged against the draft legislation.
Another two rally participants - Omar Okribelashvili and Saba Meparishvili will have to serve 10 months in prison on charges of damaging the iron protective barrier at the entrance to the Parliament on May 14. Okribelashvili and Meparishvili were sentenced to three years’ imprisonment, which was reduced to 10 months following a plea bargain and an amnesty. The two were charged under Article 187 of the Georgian Criminal Code with participating with a group in causing damage to property. The damage was allegedly caused to around $140 fence near the Georgian parliament building.
Adopted on May 16, the foreign agent law stipulates that any individual or entity receiving over 20 percent of their funding register as agents of foreign influence or pay fine of around 180 USD.
