2019 Gavrilov’s Night Protests

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Tear gas being deployed against protesters on 20 June 2019. Photo: Mariam Nikuradze/OC Media.

Georgian court awards lifelong payments to person injured in ‘Gavrilov’s Night’ protests

by Tata Shoshiashvili

•2 min read

Tbilisi City Court has ordered the Ministry of Internal Affairs to pay one of those injured during the 20–21 June 2019 Gavrilov’s night protests damages for life. According to the Tbilisi-based rights group the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA), who represented the unnamed victim, the court awarded them ₾30,000 ($12,000) in moral damages and ₾1,155 ($440) monthly for life, due to a reduction in their working capacity. ‘[The victim] tried to help a participant surrounded by tear g

EU Council President Charles Michel and Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili at a press briefing in Tbilisi days after the agreement was signed. Official photo.

19 April Agreement

Amnesty controversy threatens to derail EU-brokered deal in Georgia

by Shota Kincha

•4 min read

Months before the local elections, disagreements over a proposed amnesty law are threatening to derail a deal brokered by the EU to bring an end to the political crisis in the country. At present, most opposition MPs remain against the amnesty for actions during the June 2019 anti-government protests. The amnesty is part of an EU-mediated agreement signed by the government and opposition parties on 19 April to end their 7-month boycott of parliament. While the deal was not signed by several

2019 Gavrilov’s Night Protests

Protesters mark ‘Gavrilov’s Night’ anniversary in Tbilisi

by OC Media

•4 min read

Georgian anti-government group Shame and several opposition parties have marked the anniversary of last year’s violent clashes with police with a demonstration outside parliament. Organisers said the protest was directed against both the Kremlin’s policies toward Georgia as well as the ruling Georgian Dream party, who they dubbed ‘pro-Russian’. Giorgi Margvelashvili, who was elected fourth President of Georgia as part of Georgian Dream before breaking with the party, was among the spea

Irakli Okruashvili. Photo: Mzia Saganelidze/RFE/RL.

2019 Gavrilov’s Night Protests

Former Georgian Defence Minister Irakli Okruashvili given 5 years for 20 June violence

by OC Media

•4 min read

Former Defence Minister of Georgia Irakli Okruashvili has been sentenced to five years in prison for ‘participating in group violence’ at an anti-government rally last June. Several opposition groups have claimed the verdict against him and others endanger a deal with the ruling Georgian Dream party to reform the electoral system together. On 20–21 June last year, protesters clashed with riot police throughout the night in Tbilisi as they attempted to occupy the parliament building. The ensuin

Injured protester at 20 June rally. Photo: Mariam Nikuradze/OC Media

2019 Gavrilov’s Night Protests

Gakharia failed to act but did not give order to use rubber bullets, Public Defender reports

by OC Media

•3 min read

In her annual report to parliament, Public Defender Nino Lomjaria states that police officers used ‘non-lethal weapons’ unlawfully on the night of 20 June last year. However, they did so without being ordered by then-Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia or his deputy ministers. The Public Defender’s office, which has been overseeing the ongoing investigation by Georgia’s Chief Prosecutor’s Office into allegations of excessive force led since last July, has confirmed that orders were given by ex-

The Parliament of Georgia. Photo: Shota Kincha/OC Media.

2019 Gavrilov’s Night Protests

Georgian opposition parties boycott parliament

by OC Media

•4 min read

MPs from all opposition parties have begun a boycott of Georgia’s parliament over the government’s U-turn on introducing proportional elections for the 2020 elections. On Tuesday parliament reconvened for the Spring session with only MPs from the ruling Georgian Dream Party and independents attending. It came after the Alliance of Patriots and Social Democrats group and their 7 MPs joined the European Georgia and United National Movement (UNM) parties in their boycott over the ‘broken promis

Municipal workers cleared away the protest camp early Tuesday morning and erected a New Year display in it's place. Photo: Shota Kincha/OC Media.

2019 Gavrilov’s Night Protests

Georgian authorities clear Parliament protest camp for New Year’s amusement park

by OC Media

•4 min read

Tbilisi City Hall has cleared the area in front of the Georgian Parliament of protest tents and banners in order to erect a temporary amusement park for the city’s New Year’s Eve celebrations. Police arrested 10 activists in the early hours of 31 December as members of the Shame anti-government movement tried to prevent municipal sanitary workers from clearing the site. The area in front of parliament has been continuously occupied by protesters with various grievances since June 2018.