Protesters on Rustaveli Avenue expressed solidarity with Elena Khoshtaria.

Activists gathered outside the Georgian parliament building on the 482nd day of continuous protests, defaced Kakha Kaladze's campaign banner with protest slogans, expressing solidarity with Elene Khoshtaria, who was convicted of damaging his campaign poster.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," on March 23, the 481st day of continuous protests, participants in the rally on Rustaveli Avenue demonstrated demanding the release of political prisoners. Today, March 24, a Tbilisi court sentenced Droa party founder Elene Khoshtaria to 1.5 years in prison, finding her guilty of defacing the campaign banner of Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze, Secretary General of Georgian Dream.

Supporters of Georgia's European integration, who gathered today, on the 482nd day of continuous protests, on the pedestrian section of Rustaveli Avenue near the parliament building, expressed solidarity with the convicted Elene Khoshtaria. The activists brought an election banner with a photograph of Kakha Kaladze to the parliament building and jointly covered it with protest slogans and demands, Publika reports.

The protesters stated that writing on the banners with a felt-tip pen cannot be considered a crime.

“This banner was prepared by us; it is not damaged. On the contrary, these protest messages will be symbolic and will be preserved. I appeal to Elena: I will tell people how free you are even within prison walls. We are waiting for you here, we will meet here,” Pirveli quotes activist Marika Arevadze as saying.

Khoshtaria was formally convicted of “damage to another’s property, causing significant damage”: she was accused of damaging three campaign banners worth 570 lari (approximately $210). Commenting on the verdict, Georgian Dream leader Gia Volski explicitly stated the case was politically motivated, stating that the opposition leader was not imprisoned “because of a felt-tip pen inscription.”

“According to Volski, Elena Khoshtaria is in prison “for participating in a scheme called a revolution, for attempting to change power through revolutionary means. She was convicted of extremism, not for using a felt-tip pen to damage the poster," Tbilisi_life notes.

Citizens who came to parliament on the 482nd day of protests carried posters with photographs of Elene Khoshtaria at protests and her quote: "Let's continue the fight: I'm from here, you're from there." One protester held a poster with the words, "Elene, you're the best because you love your people and your homeland most of all," while another held a poster with the words, "Freedom for Elene Khoshtaria." Protesters also carried posters reading, "Russian Dream," "We Don't Recognize," "City Collapse, Slave Kaladze," "Let Your Four Children Be the Next to Wait for Their Parent to Leave Prison," and "You'll Leave Anyway," according to posts by photographer Mo Se and Georgian media on Facebook*.

Protesters in Georgia have been demanding new parliamentary elections and the release of Political prisoners. Security forces carried out violent dispersals of the protests, using tear gas and water cannons, and detained protesters. Thousands of people were subjected to administrative prosecution during the protests. The "Caucasian Knot" has prepared a report "The Main Thing About the Persecution of Protest Participants in Georgia".