7 Georgia protest leaders jailed as instability grows for digital nomads

What changed in Tbilisi courts

Georgia’s Tbilisi City Court sentenced 10 protest organizers on May 7 for their roles in the Oct. 4, 2025 anti-government protests, handing prison terms of 2 to 7 years. Five defendants, including opera singer Paata Burchuladze, got 7 years each, four received 5 years and one was sentenced in absentia to 2 years.

The prosecutor’s office said the group organized violence, damaged property, set fires and built barricades. Critics, including Transparency International, say the cases punish people for opposing the government’s pro-Russian policy line.

What expats and nomads should watch

The sentences come on top of a broader crackdown that has kept protests active since late 2024 and widened the risk for anyone near demonstrations in Tbilisi. The United States Embassy has advised avoiding all protests because foreigners can face detentions or get caught in violence.

Digital nomads and expats in the city still report normal day-to-day conditions outside protest zones, but downtown gatherings have carried a real risk of arrest, injury or police attention. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have separately documented allegations of excessive force, arbitrary detentions and attacks on journalists during the crackdown.

How to stay clear of trouble

Avoid demonstrations, political rallies and nearby streets when police are present. Georgia still offers visa-free stays of up to 1 year for many nationalities, but protest-related offenses can bring fines, 60-day administrative detention or criminal charges under laws that took effect Dec. 30, 2024.

If you need local updates, check official notices and follow visa updates before going downtown. Read our full Georgia guide for the complete picture.