Protesters in Tbilisi held a march in support of children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Participants in the rally outside the Georgian Parliament, on the 513th day of daily protests, marched to the government chancery building, where a protest by parents of children suffering from Duchenne muscular dystrophy has been ongoing for five days.

As "Caucasian Knot" reported, on April 23, on the 512th day of continuous protests, participants in the rally on Rustaveli Avenue demanded the release of political prisoners and the purchase of medications for children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Supporters of Georgia's European integration, who gathered today for the 513th consecutive evening on Rustaveli Avenue, marched to the government administration building. There, activists supported the protest of parents whose children suffer from Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Publika reports.

Protesting parents demanding modern medications for sick children are planning to spend their fifth night in the square outside the government chancery. They have also been seeking a meeting with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, a member of the Georgian Dream party, for over two months.

The protesters, who gathered on Rustaveli Avenue with national and EU flags, held signs reading: "Give Medicine," "Support the Children," "A Slap in the Face of the Regime," "People's Money is Being Stealed in This Building," "Medicine for Children, Airtime for Parents," and "Solidarity with Saba Jikia," according to posts by photographer Mo Se and Georgian media on Facebook*.

Saba Jikia is a 19-year-old activist and student from Zugdidi who was sentenced to 4.5 years in prison for participating in pro-European protests. His sentence was handed down in the summer of 2025, and today the Tbilisi Court of Appeals upheld it.

Formally, Dzhikia was found guilty of assaulting a police officer during a protest. According to the prosecution, during a rally on Rustaveli Avenue on November 30, 2024, he kicked a special forces officer on duty, who was wearing civilian clothes and no insignia. Beka Gotiashvili, an employee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs' Department for Special Assignments, was recognized as the victim in the case. He himself stated in court that he suffered no bodily harm, according to Novosti-Gruzia.

Protesters in Georgia have been demanding new parliamentary elections and the release of political prisoners since November 28, 2024. 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 entitled "The Main Thing About the Persecution of Protest Participants in Georgia".