(20 Apr 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tbilisi, Georgia – 20 April 2025
++NIGHT SHOTS++
1. Wide of people gathered outside St. George’s church in central Tbilisi
2. Various of clergy arriving for Easter service
3. People gathered outside church
4. Girl wrapped in Georgian flag and others holding candles and posters with service underway in background
5. Mid of row protesters with scarves covering their faces to avoid fines, holding candles
6. Mid of woman holding a candle
7. Close of candles being lit
8. Interior of church with service underway
9. Service UPSOUND (Georgian) "Christ has risen. Truly He is Risen"
10. Worshippers holding candles
11. Mid of protesters outside church holding Georgian and Ukrainian flags and candles
12. Various of parents of people arrested during protests holding posters and candles
13. Mid protester holding EU flag
14. Various of parents of people arrested during protests holding posters and candles
15. Various of protesters singing religious songs
16. Protesters waving large Georgian flag, with church in the background
STORYLINE:
Hundreds of pro-European demonstrators gathered in front of a church across from the Parliament building in Tbilisi, Georgia, to celebrate Easter and turn the holiday into a symbol of unity and political expression.
The demonstrators gathered outside as the Easter Sunday service began after midnight, holding candles and Georgian and EU flags.
Protests sparked by the Prime Minister’s decision to halt accession talks with the European Union have now entered a fifth month.
Demonstrators continue to call for new parliamentary elections and the release of protesters detained during the ongoing rallies.
Parents of some of the detainees stood in front of the church alongside the protesters, holding posters and candles.
Many wore masks to hide from street cameras and avoid fines.
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, its former imperial ruler.
Georgian Dream has increased fines for blocking streets tenfold, with the current fine standing at 5000 GEL ($1,850).
The average monthly salary is 740 USD. The government has also increased the number of cameras on the streets that can identify faces.
AP video by Sophiko Megrelidze
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