Georgia protests: Ten arrested in Tbilisi on day 606 of anti-government rallies

At least 10 people have been arrested in Tbilisi as pro-European demonstrations in Georgia reached their 606th consecutive day.

Police detained the activists outside the city's municipal council on Freedom Square after they displayed placards insulting Bidzina Ivanishvili, the billionaire founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs said the demonstrators faced administrative charges of petty hooliganism and disobeying lawful police demands.

"They held offensive placards in a public place," the ministry said in a statement. "In addition, they uttered offensive phrases, violated public order, and resisted law enforcement officers."

Prominent activist Tornike Toshhua was among those taken into custody. Toshhua was previously imprisoned in August 2025 following a high-profile hunger strike before his sentence was commuted on appeal earlier this month.

Following news of the arrests, hundreds of demonstrators relocated from their regular gathering spot outside the Georgian parliament to the municipal council building.

Protesters chanted slogans in support of Toshhua and carried banners identical to the ones seized by police.

Former Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili arrived at the scene shortly after the arrests took place to show support for the demonstrators.

Video footage published by local journalists showed officers using force while detaining several individuals. Local media outlets identified 11 people in total as having been taken into custody during the evening's action.

The arrests mark the latest escalation in a wave of daily anti-government rallies that have swept the South Caucasian nation since 28 November 2024.

The movement erupted after the government announced a pause in negotiations to join the European Union. Demonstrators are demanding fresh parliamentary elections, the release of political prisoners, and a immediate return to EU integration paths.

Pressure on government critics has intensified in recent days. On 22 July, TV Formula journalist Vakho Sanaya was sentenced to 14 days in administrative detention for comments directed at the parliamentary speaker, while prominent activist and comedian Onise Okriashvili was beaten outside his home.

Thousands of protesters have faced administrative or criminal prosecution since the rallies began, with riot police frequently deploying tear gas and water cannon to disperse crowds.