“We would like to respond to the information released in the mass media that several people were sentenced to administrative detention simply for standing on a sidewalk,” reads the statement of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA).

According to the MIA, the information is a lie and manipulation, which aims to deceive society.

“In fact, it does not concern standing on a sidewalk, but the cases when individuals obstruct or prevent citizens from moving on the sidewalk, which will result in our response under the law.

The Georgian Constitution stipulates the need for prior notification to the authorities when the assembly is held in a place where people or vehicles are moving. A participant of an assembly or manifestation is not allowed to intentionally obstruct the movement of people or transport.

In a concrete case, since on December 17-18, 2025, manifestation participants blocked the free movement of citizens in front of the Georgian parliament, the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs, within the framework of the relevant administrative proceedings, applied to the court with a request to impose an administrative penalty on these individuals.

At the court hearing, when reviewing the fact of administrative offence, through presented and assessed evidence, the law violation was confirmed, and these individuals were imposed administrative penalties,” reads the statement.