Reacting to the sentencing of opposition politician Elene Khoshtaria to one year and six months’ imprisonment for writing a slogan on an election poster, Denis Krivosheev, Amnesty International’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia Deputy Director, said:
“For a symbolic act of protest – writing barely visible graffiti on a street poster – Elene Khoshtaria will spend a year and a half in prison. This is yet another example of the criminal justice system being instrumentalized to punish dissent. Criminal sanctions for non-violent minor offences committed while peacefully expressing dissent are likely to be a disproportionate restriction of freedom of expression. In these cases, prison sentences should be avoided.
“In Elene Khoshtaria’s case, the severity of the punishment appears related not to material damage, but to her political opinions and the symbolic damage she has inflicted on the ruling party. The authorities must immediately release her, review her sentence, in particularly by quashing the prison term, and end all politically motivated trials without delay.”
In Elene Khoshtaria’s case, the severity of the punishment appears related not to material damage, but to her political opinions and the symbolic damage she has inflicted on the ruling party. The authorities must immediately release her, review her sentence, in particularly by quashing the prison term, and end all politically motivated trials without delay
Denis Krivosheev, Amnesty International’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia Deputy Director
Background
On 24 March, Tbilisi City Court sentenced the leader of the opposition party Droa, Elene Khoshtaria, to 1.5-years’ imprisonment under Article 187(1) of Georgia’s Criminal Code for “damaging or destroying another person’s property which has resulted in substantial damage”. She had written “Russian Dream” with a marker on election posters of the incumbent mayor of Tbilisi representing the ruling “Georgian Dream” party on 14 September 2025. According to the Prosecutor’s Office, the damage amounted to 570 GEL (210 USD).
Elene Khoshtaria stated that it was an act of solidarity with activist Megi Diasamidze, who had been detained for a similar act of protest several days earlier. Megi Diasamidze has been released on bail, and her case is still pending.
For over a year, and especially since the widely contested parliamentary elections in October 2025, protests have continued daily. The authorities have responded with ever-increasing repression, including arbitrary arrests, abusive criminal prosecutions, intimidation and harassment of protesters and other critics of the government, as well as a tightening of administrative and criminal legislation that significantly restricts the rights to freedom of expression, assembly and association.
