Student jailed for insulting Georgian ruling party MP

A Georgian student has been sentenced to 12 days in prison after a confrontation with a ruling party MP, in what critics say is part of a broader clampdown on free expression.

Tbilisi City Court Judge Davit Tereuli on Friday handed down the sentence to Lika Lortkipanidze after Georgian Dream MP Mariam Lashkhi filed a complaint, alleging that the student verbally insulted her in a café on 17 May.

According to witnesses, Lortkipanidze and two other young women approached Lashkhi while she was seated with companions, including her children, shouting slogans such as, "Freedom to the regime's prisoners" and "Down with the slaves of Russia."

The Ministry of Internal Affairs is seeking imprisonment in two of the cases and a fine in the third.

The case comes amid rising concerns over the use of a controversial February amendment to Georgia’s Code of Administrative Offences. The new provision criminalises "insulting a state or political official", allowing for penalties ranging from a 1,500 to 4,000 GEL fine to administrative detention of up to 45 days.

Critics argue the measure is being used to silence dissent and punish political activism. On 23 May, a court in Zugdidi imposed fines of 3,500 and 4,000 GEL on two female activists following a similar lawsuit by Georgian Dream MP Irakli Zarkua.

In a separate ruling on Friday, the Tbilisi City Court sentenced Tornike Skhvitaridze to five days in jail and fined Ani Kavtaradze 5,000 GEL. Both were found guilty of insulting police officer Mirian Kavtaradze.

Rights groups and opposition figures have denounced the legislation as an authoritarian tool to suppress criticism of the government and its officials.