71-Year-Old IDP Protester Begins Hunger Strike After Detention
By Liza Mchedlidze
Tuesday, November 4, 2025
Aza Chilachava, a 71-year-old IDP from Gagra, detained during a protest on Rustaveli Avenue, has begun a hunger strike while in custody. Her lawyer, Marika Arevadze, confirmed the decision after visiting her at the Zahesi temporary detention center.
"It was a shocking sight - how they brought her in, and behind the bars, the word 'Gagra' was written on her chest," Arevadze said. "Aza is spirited and fearless, as always. She has started a hunger strike without water. Despite many pleas, we could not change her mind."
Chilachava was detained under administrative procedures and is accused of artificially blocking a road. She had previously faced administrative charges but was given only a verbal warning at that time.
The case has sparked strong reactions across Georgia's political spectrum. Georgian Dream Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili defended the authorities' actions, calling them "just and humane."
"Of course, the Georgian authorities cannot allow fifty people to impose their will on a city of one and a half million," Papuashvili said. "Society is discontent with these empty actions and radicalism. The authorities are acting fairly and humanely, even when decisions must be made based on health considerations."
Papuashvili also criticized international actors, including Finland's Foreign Minister and the EU Ambassador, accusing them of supporting radical elements in Georgia. "You should demand an answer from the EU Ambassador about Mrs. Aza," he told journalists. "Responsibility lies with those who encourage people to break the law and then shed crocodile tears afterward."
In contrast, the opposition's Coalition for Change condemned Chilachava's detention, describing it as politically motivated. In a public statement, the group called her imprisonment "a manifestation of the war against Georgianness, our traditions, our identity, and our past."
The coalition highlighted Chilachava's past in Gagra, where she reportedly buried fallen Georgian soldiers during the conflict. "Today, Ivanishvili's regime keeps her in illegal detention for blocking a road and wearing a face mask, while corrupt officials walk free," the statement read. "Aza Chilachava must be released unconditionally."
As of now, Chilachava remains in detention and continues her dry hunger strike. Her health condition has not been publicly disclosed.
