Up to nine people jailed in connection with the anti-government protests of 2024–2025 have been reported to be among the 226 people pardoned by Georgian Dream-elected President Mikheil Kavelashvili on the religious holiday, marking the first known instance of Kavelashvili using his pardon powers to release imprisoned protesters.
On August 27, Kavelashvili’s administration reported granting 226 pardons on the occasion of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary (Mariamoba). In the hours that followed, reports emerged that among the pardonees were up to nine persons convicted in connection with protests. According to various media reports, the nine include Pridon Bubuteishvili, Davit Khomeriki, Saba Jikia, Daniel Mumladze, Guram Khutashvili, Tornike Mchedlishvili, Denis Kulanin, Simon Makharadze, and Avtandil Topchishvili.
Bubuteishvili was arrested during the spring 2024 protests against the foreign agents law, while Khomeriki, Jikia, Mumladze, and Khutashvili were serving multi-year sentences after being convicted in connection with pro-EU protests that erupted in November 2024. Mchedlishvili, Makharadze, and Topchishvili were among dozens arrested and tried in connection with October 4, 2025 election-day unrest.
While there have been repeated calls on Kavelashvili and Georgian Dream authorities to release those imprisoned in connection with the protests, ruling party leaders have implied that considering such a move would require applying for a pardon and showing remorse. Part of the detained protesters had openly refused such a move, seeing their charges as politically motivated.
In later months, however, plea deals and pardons have been discussed more openly, both amid shifting attitudes within protest circles and what appeared to be a more openly expressed willingness on the part of the authorities. It was reported in May that Bubuteishvili had applied for a pardon, while it remains unknown whether any of the other pardonees had also submitted formal requests.
Dozens have also left prison early or had their sentences reduced as part of plea agreements, particularly among those arrested in connection with the October 4 unrest.
The pardoned protesters include:
- Pridon Bubuteishvili was arrested in spring 2024, during the protests against Georgian Dream’s reintroduction of the foreign agents law, on allegations of causing GEL 500 [around USD 180] worth of damage to the gate of the Parliament building and throwing a stone at a firefighter, resulting in injury. He was found guilty and sentenced to five years in prison in January 2025.
- Davit Khomeriki was arrested during the pro-EU protests that erupted in November 2024, and was sentenced in August 2025 to four years and six months in prison on charges of plotting an explosion. Prosecutors alleged that Khomeriki carried bottles with inflammable substances in his bag, preparing a Molotov cocktail attack.
- Saba Jikia was arrested during the pro-EU protests that erupted in November 2024 and sentenced in July 2025 to four years and six months in prison on charges of assaulting a police officer.
- Daniel Mumladze and Guram Khutashvili were arrested during the pro-EU protests that erupted in November 2024 and sentenced in June 2025 to three years each for damaging surveillance cameras during protests, with prosecutors reportedly denying them plea deals.
- Denis Kulanin, a Russian citizen, was arrested in spring 2025 and sentenced to two years in jail in June 2025 on allegations of damaging a police car.
- Tornike Mchedlishvili, Simon Makharadze, and Avtandil Topchishvili were arrested in connection with the October 4, 2025, election-day unrest. Mchedlishvili was sentenced to five years in prison, while Makharadze and Topchishvili had their sentences reduced to one year in addition to three years of suspended sentences as part of plea agreements.
Dozens were arrested and convicted in a series of trials related to protest movements, including during spring 2024 protests against the foreign agents law, continued pro-EU protests since November 2024, and election-day unrest on October 4, 2025.
A report published in July by Transparency International Georgia, a local civil society organization, identified 91 persons in detention at the time as “political prisoners.”
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