• On September 4, Irakli Edzgveradze, a member of the Tbilisi city Municipal Assembly and the head of the Gldani election headquarters of the “National Movement,” was administratively detained [1]. The Ministry of Internal Affairs justified Edzgveradze's detention by claiming that the MP was obstructing the police during an ongoing investigation into drug crime close to his residence. The deputy of the Tbilisi City Council allegedly suffered abuse from the police while he was being detained, according to Edzgveradze's lawyer, Lasha Tkesheladze. Edzgveradze is accused of violating Articles 166 and 173 of the Administrative Offences Code of Georgia, which constitute disorderly conduct and non-compliance with a lawful order or demand of a law-enforcement officer. The detention of Edzgveradze occurred alongside the arrest [2] of Irakli Nadiradze, another member of the “National Movement,” and Tbilisi City Municipal Assembly. Nadiradze was subsequently released on the basis of a signed statement. The court declared Edzgveradze and Nadiradze as offenders on September 12 and 13 and imposed fines [3]of 2,700 and 2,500 GEL on them, respectively.

During the pre-election period, it is imperative that criminal prosecution or administrative offense proceedings of politically active individuals be conducted only in cases where there is an urgent necessity. Alternatively, it could be interpreted as political persecution.