Prepared by Messenger Staff
Two Georgians Detained by Russian Occupation Forces Released, SSSG Says
Two Georgian citizens who were illegally detained by Russian occupation forces have been released and returned to territory controlled by Tbilisi, Georgia's State Security Service (SSSG) announced on January 20.
According to the agency, the individuals were detained on January 13 near the village of Dvani in the Kareli municipality, close to the administrative boundary line with the Russian-occupied region of South Ossetia. The SSSG did not publicly report the detention at the time.
The security service declined to disclose the names of the released individuals or publish photographs, saying this was done deliberately to avoid complicating efforts to secure their release.
"In the best interests of those illegally detained, we deliberately refrained from disclosing their names and other details in order not to interfere with the process," the agency said, adding that experience shows this approach increases the chances of a successful outcome.
The SSSG said that all available mechanisms were actively used to secure the release of the two detainees and stressed that work continues to free other Georgian citizens who remain in detention in the occupied territories.
Public Defender Challenges Anti-Protest Laws in Constitutional Court
Georgia's Public Defender has filed a constitutional complaint against multiple laws and penalties introduced in 2025 that regulate protests and public demonstrations.
The lawsuit targets provisions in the Law on Assemblies and Demonstrations, the Administrative Offenses Code, and the Criminal Code, which, according to the Public Defender's Office, impose excessive restrictions on citizens' right to protest.
Levan Ioseliani, Public Defender, announced in December that his office planned to challenge the measures, citing concerns over proportionality and the impact on civil liberties. "We believe these laws impose restrictions that go beyond what is necessary to maintain public order," Ioseliani said in a statement.
According to the Public Defender's Office, the complaint specifically addresses a "blanket ban on covering faces with masks or by any other means" during protests. It also challenges the penalties applied under the Administrative Offenses Code, including mandatory detention and the size of fines.
The complaint further raises questions about the criminal liability of individuals who repeatedly commit administrative offenses. Under the amended laws, repeated protest-related offenses, such as blocking roads or covering faces at demonstrations, can carry prison sentences of up to one year.
"The cumulative effect of these measures is to severely restrict the right to peaceful assembly," the office said in its statement.
The Constitutional Court will now review the complaint, which could have significant implications for protest regulations and civil rights in Georgia.
