Georgian activists released after serving 12-day detention over protest incident targeting ruling party MP

Two Georgian activists have been released from detention after serving 12-day administrative sentences following a protest targeting a ruling party MP.

Tatia Apriamashvili and Lika Lortkipanidze were freed on Wednesday from a temporary detention facility after completing sentences handed down in connection with an incident involving Georgian Dream MP Mariam Lashkhi.

The incident took place on 17 May, when a group of activists approached Lashkhi while she was at a café with her children. The activists shouted slogans including “Freedom to the regime’s prisoners,” “Down with the Russian regime,” and “Down with the rotten empire of Russia.”

Lashkhi subsequently filed a formal complaint, citing harassment during a private moment with her family. Based on her testimony, both Apriamashvili and Lortkipanidze were convicted of administrative offences and sentenced to 12 days in detention.