Prepared by Messenger Staff
Medical Student Sentenced to Five Years Over Protest Charges
Giorgi Mindadze, a 21-year-old medical student, was sentenced to five years in prison on July 3 for allegedly assaulting a police officer during an anti-government protest. He is the fifth protester convicted since demonstrations against the Georgian Dream government began in November 2024.
Judge Nino Galustashvili delivered the verdict at Tbilisi City Court during a hearing held under new restrictions on media access. Tensions were high as confrontations broke out between bailiffs and Mindadze's supporters in the corridors. Some supporters were removed from the building.
Mindadze was accused of injuring a riot police officer with pyrotechnics during a protest on November 29. Prosecutors presented video footage showing a man with a medical mask covering the lower part of his face setting off fireworks. They claimed one firework exploded behind police lines and injured officer Shmagi Jachvadze. Jachvadze testified that he sustained burns on his leg and identified Mindadze as the person responsible.
The defense argued that the evidence was inconclusive since the footage did not show the firework's trajectory or impact.
Mindadze's mother, Nani Tsulaia, brought to the courtroom a letter her son wrote.
"Fight as long as at least one person has hope and faith to win this fight," Mindadze wrote.
Georgia's Annual Inflation Reaches 4 Percent in June
Georgia's annual inflation rate stood at 4.0 percent in June, according to data released by the National Statistics Office (Geostat). Consumer prices slightly decreased by 0.01 percent compared to the previous month.
The annual inflation rate was mainly influenced by rising prices in several key categories. Food and non-alcoholic beverages increased by 10.1 percent, health by 9.4 percent, miscellaneous goods and services by 6.7 percent, while transport prices dropped by 5.3 percent.
Monthly inflation was driven by a 0.4 percent drop in food and non-alcoholic beverages, a 1.4 percent drop in clothing and footwear, and a 0.6 percent decrease in transport. Prices for alcoholic beverages and tobacco rose by 2.2 percent.
Within the food category, notable annual price increases were recorded for vegetables at 26.3 percent, oils and fats at 20.6 percent, and coffee, tea and cocoa at 15.4 percent. Other increases included soft drinks and juices at 10.3 percent, bread and cereals at 9.6 percent, sweets and chocolate at 8.7 percent, fish at 7.9 percent, dairy at 7.1 percent, meat at 3.6 percent, and fruit and grapes at 2.7 percent.
