Tbilisi Court Sentences Protesters Over Foreign Agents' Law Demonstrations
By Liza Mchedlidze
Tuesday, January 21, 2025
On January 20, 2025, the Tbilisi City Court sentenced three individuals involved in the May 2024 protests against Georgia's controversial Foreign Agents' Law to prison terms. Omar Okribelashvili and Saba Meparishvili were sentenced to 10 months each, while Pridon Bubuteishvili received a five-year prison term.
Omar Okribelashvili and Saba Meparishvili both were convicted of damaging an iron protective barrier at the entrance to the Parliament during the May 14 protests. Initially sentenced to three years under Article 187 of the Georgian Criminal Code for participating in property damage as part of a group, their sentences were reduced to 10 months following a plea bargain and an amnesty. The damage was estimated at 400 GEL.
Pridon Bubuteishvili, 20, was sentenced to five years in prison. Arrested during the May 9 protest, he was accused of causing 500 GEL worth of damage to the Parliament's gate and injuring a firefighter by throwing a stone. He faced charges under two articles of the Georgian Criminal Code:
- Article 187, part 1: Damage or destruction of property causing significant damage, punishable by one to five years in prison.
- Article 353 prima: Assault on a police officer, government official, or public institution.
The protests in May 2024 were sparked by the government's introduction of a Foreign Agents' Law, widely criticized for its potential to suppress civil society and independent media. The law faced significant backlash, with demonstrators clashing with authorities in front of the Parliament building in Tbilisi.
The rulings have drawn criticism from rights groups and opposition leaders, who argue the sentences are disproportionate and reflect a broader pattern of political repression. The sentencing of individuals for causing relatively minor property damage has raised concerns about the judiciary's impartiality and its role in stifling dissent.
