On December 10, 2024, the Tbilisi City Court concluded the administrative offense case against Giorgi Davituri, Head of the Rule of Law and Freedom of Media Direction at IDFI. Judge Lela Mildenberger found Giorgi Davituri liable for committing the administrative offense, despite the non-existence of relevant evidence, and imposed a fine of 2,200 GEL.

Giorgi Davituri was unfoundedly and illegally arrested on December 2, 2024, at dawn, during the dispersal of a protest on Rustaveli Avenue and kettling peaceful demonstrators by special forces.

Giorgi Davituri and his lawyer presented several pieces of evidence to the court, confirming that Giorgi Davituri had not committed any administrative offense, that he was protesting peacefully, and that he was on his way towards the Rustaveli metro station at the time of his arrest. Based on these evidences, a motion was filed with the court to terminate the proceedings on the case, but it was not granted.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs claimed that Giorgi Davituri committed “petty hooliganism” and “disobedience to a lawful request of a police officer,” however, the Ministry representative did not present a single piece of evidence before the court that would create a well-founded and substantiated assumption that Giorgi Davituri committed the administrative offense. Instead, the representative of the Ministry summoned only two police officers as witnesses. It should also be noted that the arrest protocol, the notification registration document, and the administrative offense protocol presented to the court contain general and inconsistent information.

It is important to note that in the context of the systematic repressions carried out after November 28, the court is considering cases in substantial violation of the right to a fair trial.

Based on the factual circumstances of the case, we disagree with the decision of the first instance court on finding Giorgi Davituri liable for committing administrative offense and will use all possible mechanisms in response to this result.