**Tbilisi Activist Sentenced to 10 Days in Administrative Detention**
A court in Tbilisi, the capital city of Georgia, has sent activist Ucha Kemashvili to 10 days of administrative detention for disobeying police orders. However, Kemashvili and his supporters believe that the arrest is linked to his act of burning the flag of the ruling Georgian Dream party outside the parliament building.
The incident occurred on May 26, when Kemashvili was heading to his sister’s home from an Independence Day rally downtown. As he walked near her apartment building, around 25 people approached him and he was taken into custody. Police followed him while he took public transport before detaining him. Kemashvili was released on May 28, but only after the initial court hearing was postponed.
**Flag Burning Not an Offense, But Activist Still Charged**
Kemashvili has been actively participating in anti-government protests and is known for distributing alucha, a green plum native to Georgia, to demonstrators. During his detention, police brought up the flag burning incident as evidence against him. However, since burning the Georgian Dream flag is not considered an offense under local laws, Kemashvili was charged with police disobedience (Article 173 of the Administrative Offenses Code).
Kemashvili’s lawyer, Lasha Tkemaladze, stated that the activist was sent to detention because he had been handing out alucha during rallies and burning some fabric. Since these actions couldn’t be used as grounds for detention, the police “trumped up” a case against him for allegedly resisting dozens of police officers near his home.
**Commentary**
This arrest is just the latest example of the Georgian government’s increasing attempts to silence activists and critics. The fact that Kemashvili was charged with police disobedience rather than the actual offense of flag burning suggests that the authorities are trying to find ways to punish him for exercising his freedom of expression.
Kemashvili has been vocal in his criticism of the ruling Georgian Dream party, which he referred to as a “terrorist organization” due to its actions against opposition groups. His arrest is likely an attempt to intimidate and silence him further.
**The Broader Context**
This incident takes place amidst a broader context of increasing government pressure on activists, journalists, and critics in Georgia. The country has been experiencing growing tensions between the ruling party and opposition groups, with many calling for greater freedoms and democratic reforms.
As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how Kemashvili’s case will be resolved and what impact this will have on the broader political landscape in Georgia.
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