Georgian Parliamentary Majority Leader Irakli Kirtskhalia: No one is arrested or fined simply for standing on a sidewalk; penalties are imposed for specific violations

No one in Georgia is arrested or fined simply for standing on a sidewalk, Parliamentary Majority Leader Irakli Kirtskhalia said during an appearance on the television programme Open Air.

“People are fined when a small group deliberately creates obstacles to public movement without any legitimate need to do so,” Kirtskhalia said.

The parliamentary majority leader also addressed Georgia’s controversial transparency legislation, rejecting claims that the law had restricted civil society activities.

“Which non-governmental organisation have we restricted? The narrative was that once this law was adopted, we would wake up in Chelyabinsk. Well, today is October 31, 2026. Who has woken up in Chelyabinsk? Where has society been restricted? Where have you seen any control imposed on society?” Kirtskhalia said.