(2 Apr 2025)
RESTRICTIONS SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tbilisi, Georgia – 31 March 2025
1. Mid of protester dressed in clown costume walking ahead of demonstration
2. Drummers wearing face masks walking
3. Mid of protest
4. Various of CCTV cameras
6. Various of protesters wearing masks
8. SOUNDBITE (Georgian) Rusiko Kobakhidze, Tbilisi resident:
"Each person who stands on the street is a subject to be fined for 5000 GEL ((1850 USD). They (the government) have installed numerous cameras to recognize people and send them fines. Some people have received not one, but in many cases, even 10 fines. In a country where 5000 GEL (1850 USD) is not even the average salary, you can imagine how outrageous those fines are. That is why we found this method to show that we are not complying."
9. Mid of protesters wearing face masks, listening to Georgian anthem
10. Various of protesters with different face coverings
14. Various of cameras
15. Various of protester wearing different face coverings
18. Mid of protesters chanting
19. Close of camera
20. Various of protesters wearing fake noses and moustaches
STORYLINE:
Protesters in Georgia’s capital Tbilisi have been getting creative as they find new ways to disguise their appearances to avoid large fines being issued to demonstrators for blocking streets.
Among the face coverings on display Monday were fake noses, oversized glasses and even clown masks.
Protests have been ongoing across Georgia for almost four months since Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced a decision to halt the EU integration process on November 28.
Demonstrators are calling for new parliamentary elections and the release of jailed protesters and journalists.
In an effort to cement its grip on power, the ruling Georgian Dream party has cracked down on freedom of assembly and expression, which the opposition claims is similar to President Vladimir Putin’s actions in neighbouring Russia.
Georgian Dream has increased fines for blocking streets tenfold, with the current fine standing at 5000 GEL (1850 USD). The average monthly salary is 740 USD.
The government has also increased the number of street cameras that can identify faces in order to isolate protesters for fines.
"Some people have received not one, but in many cases, even 10 fines. In a country where 5000 GEL (1850 USD) is not even the average salary, you can imagine how outrageous those fines are," said Rusiko Kobakhidze, a Tbilisi resident who has attended almost every daily protest since November 28.
She wore a face mask to the protest Monday, saying it is her way of declaring: "We are not complying."
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