“There was no artificial roadblock on Rustaveli Avenue – nothing could be more natural than what’s happening there,” journalist Vakho Sanaia said today during his court hearing, before Judge Zviad Tsekvava sentenced him to six days in detention for blocking Rustaveli Avenue.
“They tore up the Constitution, changed the country’s foreign policy course. We have over hundred political prisoners; people have been beaten, bloodied – that’s why we’re blocking the road naturally, not artificially. We will not stop this fight, no matter what your verdict will be. No one will be intimidated. Rustaveli Avenue will remain closed until Ivanishvili’s regime falls. It’s not just my right – it’s my duty to stand where my people stand,” said Vakho Sanaia.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs confirmed that today 14 activists were detained under administrative charges for blocking the road, while cases have been opened against 13 others who will be summoned in the coming days. Among those detained are former journalists Nino Svanidze and Levan Jobava, as well as artist Levan Margiani.
PEN Georgia demands the immediate and unconditional release of all detainees.
It is clear, that the Georgian Dream government tightened the Code of Administrative Offenses after the 5,000 GEL fines failed to have an effect – soon it will be a year since Rustaveli Avenue is closing every evening. Under the amended code, road blocking and wearing masks are now punishable by up to 15 days of administrative detention for a first offense, and criminal charges for repeat offenses, carrying up to one year in prison.
When authoritarianism solidifies in a country, when the government adopts one repressive law after another – and at the same time announces an education “reform” aimed at destroying university autonomy and severing Georgian academia from the European educational space – citizens have a legitimate right to protest. Despite the government’s attempts to suppress it, they continue to exercise that right – today again, protesters blocked the Rustaveli Avenue.
