Georgia arrested 16 more people linked to the October 4 protests in Tbilisi, brining the total number of detainees in the case to 62, the Interior Ministry revealed on Friday.
Among the newly arrested protesters is Mariam Mekantsishvili, a single mother and prominent figure in the ongoing anti-government demonstrations. Just days before her detention, she had spoken publicly with Elina Valtonen - the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Finland’s Foreign Minister - during Valtonen’s visit to the protests. Mekantsishvili’s interaction with Valtonen reportedly angered local authorities, and some believe it may have contributed to her arrest. Also detained is Simon Makharadze from Ozurgeti, in western Georgia. His family claimed in a Facebook live video that armed officers raided their home early in the morning, threatened children with weapons, and even menaced the family dog.
Giving update on the arrested individuals, Interior Minister Gela Geladze said on Friday evening that the charges vary among the detainees. Some are accused of inciting a violent overthrow of the government or constitutional order, attempting to seize or block strategically significant facilities, and participating in or organizing group violence. Others face charges for assaulting law enforcement officers.
Tens of thousands of people took to the Liberty Square in Tbilisi on October 4 to stage an anti-government rally during the municipal elections that many had boycotted. Later that evening, protesters responded to a call for men to march to the presidential residence, where a segment of the crowd attempted to breach the premises. Police responded with tear gas, water cannons, and pepper spray, while demonstrators erected barricades. Violent confrontations around the area continued into the night. The government has since described the events as an attempted coup, blaming both domestic opposition groups and alleged support from foreign intelligence services.
Among those arrested are five opposition leaders who played key roles in organizing the protest. They now face potential prison sentences of up to nine years.
Since October 4, courts have ordered pre-trial detention for nearly all those arrested, including individuals with serious health or social concerns—though two have been released. One of those granted bail is 71-year-old doctor Giorgi Chakhunashvili, whose detention sparked backlash from the medical community and beyond. Following the October 4 protests, the ruling Georgian Dream party escalated its rhetoric against demonstrators, with Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze declaring a “zero sympathy” approach to the protest movement.
Georgia has seen nationwide protests since the government's decision to suspend the country's EU membership bid in November 2924. The decision followed a disputed parliamentary election, and protests have continued daily since then.
