Opposition leader Gigi Ugulava has stated that he will not pay the administrative fine imposed by the court. The Tbilisi City Court is currently deliberating on the imposition of this administrative penalty on Ugulava.

"I do not intend to discuss the legal or substantive aspects of this case, because it is absurd. One thing is clear: the government has started financial terror alongside physical terror. These cases are financial terror against the people. Ivanishvili, who promised 5 million to every village when he came to power, is now rewarding his own citizens with a 5,000 lari fine. They want to take about 3 million lari from the pockets of their citizens. I do not intend to pay any fine, period. I cannot urge anyone to act this way, it is a personal decision. All of this is aimed at intimidating people. The receipts written by the sanctioned judges can keep them as relics for themselves," Ugulava said before the hearing.

During the court session, lawyer Irakli Abesadze filed a motion to remove Judge Zviad Tsekvava from the case. According to Abesadze, the judge was sanctioned by Estonia, and therefore, he should not have been handling this case.

Ugulava also addressed the judge, telling him that the whole process was a farce and everything had already been decided in advance.

"We already know your decision. Let's not waste time on this performance; I wouldn’t even call it a circus, because in a circus, people have fun. There is no entertainment here," Ugulava told the judge.

The judge did not accept Abesadze's motion, citing a lack of reasoning, and continued with the case.

Gigi Ugulava is accused of committing an action under Article 174¹, part 4 of the Administrative Offenses Code. Specifically, he is accused of being present at the protest rally on Rustaveli Avenue on January 17 and blocking the road at a time when there were not enough people to do so.