Courts in Georgia have started imprisoning participants of anti-government protests after repeatedly blocking of roads, especially for not paying fines issued over protests in recent months.
Tbilisi City Court on Thursday, sentenced to 15 and 10 days two activists - Nika Narsia and Konstantine Mikaia who had been fined $1,800 each due to road blocking - a penalty introduced by new legislation passed by Georgian Dream at the end of 2024.
In Nika Narsia's case, the judge reviewed 19 administrative fines issued to him in April and May, of which three were annulled due to the statute of limitations. A prison sentence was imposed for the remaining fines. Currently away on a brief trip with his spouse, Narsia is expected to be detained upon his return to Georgia. On Friday, he posted on Facebook that he had cut his trip short and would return to Georgia that very night. He made this decision to serve what he called "this outrageously unfair sentence" promptly, so he could participate in the anti-government protest scheduled for 4 October in Tbilisi, which calls for a "peaceful revolution" against the government.
As for Konstantine Mikaia, the judge reviewed 11 fines issued against him and found him guilty in every case. In both instances, the court referred to the administrative offenses code, which stipulates fines up to $3,600 or up to 25 days in prison for repeated violations of protest regulations. The prison sentences will nullify the administrative fines reviewed by the court for both activists, but other outstanding fines will remain in effect.
