Activists in Batumi and Tbilisi honored the memory of Georgy Antsukhledze.

On the 629th day of protests, demonstrators in Tbilisi and Batumi took to the streets with placards reading "Antsukhledze is immortal," honoring the memory of the National Hero of Georgia on his birthday.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", supporters of Georgia's Euro-integration go out to protest daily in Tbilisi, Batumi, as well as in Kutaisi and Akhaltsikhe. On August 17, on the 628th day of continuous protests, demonstrators in Tbilisi called on citizens not to cease the struggle.

Supporters of Georgia's Euro-integration, with national flags and EU flags, took to the streets for the 629th evening in a row to protest in front of the parliament building on Rustaveli Avenue and the Tbilisi City Council building in Freedom Square. The demonstrators voiced their unchanged demands - to free all prisoners of conscience and repeal repressive laws, as well as to return the country to a Euro-Atlantic course and hold free elections, reports Publika.

Today, protesters took to the streets under the slogan "Antsukhledze is immortal" - today, August 18, Georgy Antsukhledze would have turned 42 years old. Since early morning, soldiers, family members, and friends have been visiting Antsukhledze's grave at the Mukhatgverdi cemetery near Tbilisi.

The widow of Antsukhledze, Maka Chikviladze, recalls that the command called Georgy to service on the night of August 6, 2008.

“They called, I woke him up, he was sleeping. I told him: “I hear gunshots, it seems the war has started, and they are calling you, be careful.” That was our last conversation. Georgy told me: “Don’t be afraid, nothing will happen to me,” he reassured me. Russia will always be our enemy, and I will never speak well of it,” Chikviladze's words are quoted by the Pirveli channel.

Participants of the pro-European demonstration in Batumi, gathered in front of the government house of Adjara for the 629th evening in a row, held a banner reading: “Antsukhledze is immortal! Russia is the occupier.” During the action, they lit candles in memory of the national hero, reports Mtavari.

"Caucasian Knot" also reported that the European Court of Human Rights unanimously recognized Russia as responsible for the killing of three and the torture of eight Georgian prisoners of war captured during the August 2008 war. The court ordered Moscow to pay compensation to the surviving servicemen and the families of the deceased. The decision was made with significant delay, when Moscow had already refused to recognize and comply with the court's decisions, social media users pointed out.

Protesters in Georgia have been demanding new parliamentary elections and the release of political prisoners since November 28, 2024. Law enforcement has conducted harsh crackdowns on protests, using tear gas and water cannons, and detaining protesters. Thousands of people have faced administrative prosecution during the protests. "Caucasian Knot" has prepared a report on "The Main Points on the Persecution of Protest Participants in Georgia".