Georgian student sentenced to 4.5 years in prison over pro-European protest-related charges

A Georgian court has sentenced 19-year-old student Saba Jikia to four years and six months in prison in connection with his participation in a pro-European protest last December. The verdict was delivered by Judge Tamar Mchedlishvili on Thursday. 

Jikia was arrested on December 5, 2024, on charges of assaulting a police officer during demonstrations against the government’s decision to delay the country’s EU integration until 2028. 

In a courtroom statement, Jikia addressed his supporters and expressed concern about the country’s political trajectory.

"It's hard to watch how they try to force you and suppress your free thought. But I see how you defend your right," he said. "I have to go to prison for 4 to 7 years and spend my youth there. But my imprisonment also had positive effects. I gained a new family, I met very good people."

"I still have an inner fear. Because I'm afraid of defeat, because I don't want future generations to blame us for failure... to grow up in a dictatorship," he added, urging his supporters to "smile with me" rather than cry.