Court issues verbal reprimand to activist painting Ukrainian flags on pro-Russian party office in Marneuli

The Marneuli court  in eastern Georgia, which is inhabited mostly by ethnic minorities, has issued a verbal reprimand to activist Samira Bairamova, who painted Ukrainian and EU flags on the windows of the pro-Russian Conservative Movement’s local office on March 14.

Bairamova was accused of distorting the appearance of the area.

Nana Tkabladze, a lawyer from the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association, was defending the activist’s interests.

She said that the court fully shared the argument presented by the defense and did not fine Bairamova, who is affiliated with the United National Movement opposition party.

Bairamova claimed that the members of the pro-Russian party were making threats towards her and they finally inscribed insulting words at the local office of the United National Movement on March 20.

The pro-Russian party was unable to open offices in several regions of Georgia due to protests by locals.