Parents of children with Duchenne disease accuse authorities of blocking protest in Tbilisi

Parents of children diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy on Monday said the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia had refused to allow them to set up tents and hold a 24-hour protest outside the government administration building in Tbilisi.

In a statement, the parents said they have been calling for more than a year for the state to import life-saving medication for the condition and to fund regular medical examinations.

They said they had staged a protest outside the government offices on 28 March, requesting a meeting with prime minister Irakli Kobakhidze within five days. According to the statement, no meeting has taken place in the three months since.

The group announced plans to gather again on 6 April at 15:00 local time to renew their demand for talks with the prime minister.

However, they said the patrol police department had instructed them not to erect tents at the site and to shorten the planned duration of the protest.

Authorities cited provisions of the law on assemblies and demonstrations, which restrict the installation of temporary structures if they pose safety risks, hinder policing, disrupt the functioning of institutions, or are deemed unnecessary for holding a protest.

The parents argued that the constitution guarantees the right to assemble without prior permission and said the area outside the government building is not used for traffic.

They described the restriction as unjustified, adding that they hope the interior ministry will reverse the decision. The group also called on the public to support their efforts to secure treatment for their children.