The NGO GYLA (Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association) has filed a complaint with the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on behalf of Dmitri Dzamburia.
The case concerns the decision to hold Dzamburia administratively liable and sentence him to four days of administrative arrest for participating in a peaceful protest, where he stood on the sidewalk in front of the parliament building on December 17, 2025.
The organization stated that the complaint raises the issue of violations of several articles of the European Convention on Human Rights:
- Article 6 (right to a fair trial);
- Article 11 (freedom of assembly and association);
- Article 14 (prohibition of discrimination) in conjunction with Articles 6 and 11;
- Article 17 (prohibition of abuse of rights).
The NGO claims that the national courts failed to properly consider the circumstances of the case, did not provide an objective assessment of the evidence, and ignored the arguments of the defense.
According to GYLA, the court found the applicant guilty based on the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ claim that the protesters obstructed pedestrian traffic, without examining the extent of such obstruction, the availability of alternative options for holding the protest, or the intentions of the protesters.
The Young Lawyers’ Association also believes that the application of the law in this case is part of a systemic restriction on the freedom of assembly, noting that since late 2024, the authorities have adopted a series of legislative changes which, in their view, are used primarily against participants in pro-European protests.
The ECHR complaint states that the violation of the applicant’s rights is linked to his political views and participation in pro-European rallies, and that this is not an isolated incident but rather a case of systemic discrimination against participants in such protests.