Zurab Menteshashvili

Zurab Menteshashvili, 61, became the first Georgian protester to be criminally charged under new laws criminalizing repeated road-blocking at demonstrations. He was detained on October 31, 2025, on Rustaveli Avenue. He had previously been punished administratively on October 24 and then again joined protesters blocking the road. While in detention, he began a hunger strike immediately after arrest. By late December he had been on hunger strike for more than 60 days, with health deteriorating.