71-year-old displaced woman from Gagra found guilty of mask-wearing violation, receives verbal warning

Aza Chilachava, a 71-year-old woman displaced from Russian controlled Gagra, was found guilty of an administrative offense for covering her face during a protest on Rustaveli Avenue last week, but was issued only a verbal warning by Judge Tornike Kochkiani.

The court hearing took place in her absence, according to reports.

Chilachava, who became known for her  participation in recent anti-Government  demonstrations, said earlier that she would not stop protesting, despite the case against her.

“I will stand on Rustaveli, I won’t stop walking there,” Chilachava said before the hearing. “I have my protest, because I do not consider Russians my friends - I consider them enemies. I saw everything during the capture of Gagra with my own eyes: how our soldiers and civilians were lying dead, how they burned people alive. I have lived through all of this, and I will always say that Russia is an enemy.

I won’t stay home; I’m going out again tonight. They can’t scare me.”

The Ministry of Internal Affairs had accused Chilachava of violating protest regulations by covering her face during a demonstration on Rustaveli Avenue on October 19.