Georgia jails activist over pro-Europe protest

By AFP
June 13, 2025
Supporters of Georgias opposition parties hold a rally to protest against the result of a recent parliamentary election won by the ruling Georgian Dream party, in Tbilisi, Georgia, on November 4, 2024.—Reuters
Supporters of Georgia's opposition parties hold a rally to protest against the result of a recent parliamentary election won by the ruling Georgian Dream party, in Tbilisi, Georgia, on November 4, 2024.—Reuters

TBILISI: A Georgian court on Thursday jailed a youth activist for four and a half years for assaulting police during pro-Europe protests as authorities step up a crackdown on dissent.

Georgia has been in political turmoil since disputed parliamentary elections in October triggered protests against what demonstrators call the government´s authoritarian drift in favour of Russia and against the European Union. Tbilisi city court convicted 21-year-old musician and activist Mate Devidze of assaulting police with a stick on November 19 as officers dispersed an anti-government rally.