**Anti-Russian Protests Continue in Georgia**
Mass protests against Russia have been ongoing for 11 days in Tbilisi and across Georgia. Despite the use of force and repression by authorities, the demonstrations show no signs of slowing down.
**Violence Against Protestors and Journalists**
In a recent incident, government-paid thugs attacked TV Pirveli journalist Maka Chikhladze and cameraman Giorgi Shetsiruli while they were covering an anti-Russia rally. The attackers also raided the office of the opposition coalition For Change, beating at least two of its members.
**Repression Escalates**
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has vowed to “completely neutralize” the radical opposition and eliminate what he calls “liberal fascism” from the country. In response to the brutal beatings of protestors and journalists, Kobakhidze announced a law banning face-covering during rallies.
**Opposition Leaders Face Charges**
On December 6, two opposition leaders were sentenced to prison terms: Aleko Elisashvili was given two months in pre-trial detention, while Nika Gvaramia received 12 days in prison on administrative charges.
**Activist Detained Illegally**
A detainee, Revaz Kikvadze, has stated that he is being forced to testify against opposition politicians. He has declared a hunger strike instead of making false statements.
**Human Rights Organizations Concerned**
The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) and 22 civil society organizations have expressed concern about the human rights situation in Georgia. They have appealed to international human rights monitoring organizations for assistance.
**Opposition Forces Unite**
Four major opposition forces have announced an initiative to create a public registry documenting cases of people illegally detained and police officers involved in violent actions against peaceful demonstrators.
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