By Moreta Bobokhidze, ModusA
Reading time, 4 minutes
Across Georgia, the arbitrary arrest and prosecution of women activists, journalists, and opposition leaders has become a defining marker of the country’s accelerating authoritarian drift. These cases are not isolated; they form a deliberate pattern of gendered repression aimed at silencing women who challenge power. As Women’s Month invites the world to celebrate women’s leadership, Georgia offers a stark reminder that women on the frontlines of democracy are increasingly paying the highest price for speaking out.
The arrest of Elene Khoshtaria, leader of Droa and a prominent opposition figure, illustrates how the justice system is weaponized to punish political dissent. She was detained on 15 September 2025 for writing “Russian Dream” on campaign banners of the ruling party’s mayoral candidate. Prosecutors charged her under Article 187 for “damage or destruction of property,” a charge carrying up to five years in prison. Her refusal to participate in what she called a “farce” of a trial underscores the political nature of the case.
The case of Mzia Amaghlobeli, a renowned journalist and founder of Batumelebi and Netgazeti, reveals the brutality of state retaliation against women in media. Amaghlobeli was arrested on 11 January 2025 during a protest in Batumi and later charged under Article 353¹ for allegedly assaulting a police officer. Despite evidence of her ill‑treatment in custody, the Batumi City Court sentenced her to two years in prison on 6 August 2025, following a trial marred by procedural violations and bias.
The imprisonment of Anastasia Zinovkina, a Russian activist who joined Georgian protesters in solidarity, further exposes the regime’s use of fabricated charges to intimidate women in civic movements. Zinovkina was arrested on 17 December 2024 during anti‑government protests and accused of possessing large quantities of synthetic drugs—charges she and her partner insist were fabricated. On 12 September 2025, a Tbilisi court sentenced her to 8.5 years in prison, despite widespread concerns that the evidence was planted as retaliation for her participation in demonstrations.
The targeting of Nana Sanderi, a civil activist, reflects the state’s growing reliance on sweeping, vaguely defined charges to criminalize protest participation. Sanderi was detained in connection with the October 4, 2025 events in Tbilisi and accused of involvement in group violence, blocking transport communications, damaging property, and even calls to overthrow the constitutional order. Though her charges were still being clarified, she reported threats, ill‑treatment, and denial of medical care while in custody—conditions that amount to psychological and physical coercion.
The case of Tamar Lortkipanidze, arrested after the 22 October 2025 protest on Rustaveli Avenue, demonstrates how ordinary acts of civil disobedience are reframed as violent crimes. Lortkipanidze was placed in pre‑trial detention and charged with “violence causing physical pain” and “attacking a police vehicle,” offenses carrying four to seven years in prison. Prosecutors allege she struck a taxi driver and damaged a police car claims widely viewed as exaggerated and politically motivated.
Together, these five cases reveal a systematic strategy: women who challenge the ruling party whether through journalism, protest, or political leadership are met with disproportionate force, public vilification, and criminal charges designed to remove them from public life. Their arrests send a chilling message to all women in Georgia: participation in civic life comes with the threat of imprisonment, humiliation, and violence.
Yet even behind bars, these women embody the resilience that Women’s Month seeks to honor. Their courage exposes the fragility of authoritarian power and the strength of collective resistance. As Georgia’s democratic backsliding deepens, the international community must recognize that defending women’s rights and defending democracy are inseparable struggles. The stories of Khoshtaria, Amaghlobeli, Zinovkina, Sanderi, and Lortkipanidze remind us that Women’s Month is not only a celebration it is a call to action!