Opposition leader Ugulava detained again amid new charges

Gigi Ugulava, a member of the opposition party Unity – National Movement, has been detained once again and is facing new charges related to road blockage.

“They are detaining me again. A new case has been opened—road blockage. They are trying to intimidate people, but it’s fine,” Ugulava stated outside the pre-trial detention facility.

Initially released, Ugulava was soon taken back into custody. His detention follows a protest held on February 2 near Tbilisi Mall, where demonstrators were initially arrested under administrative charges. However, authorities have now reclassified their cases as criminal offenses.

Alongside Ugulava, several other activists—Dimitri Bidzinashvili, Irakli Tsignadze, Irakli Tablade, Nikoloz Kutubidze, Vasil Eliava, Nikoloz Kumsishvili, and Aleksandre Gogoladze—are now facing criminal charges for their involvement in the demonstration.