The Public Defender emphasizes that it is important to ensure a safe and supportive environment for children when exercising freedom of expression. At the same time, it is essential to promptly identify the driver of the vehicle that endangered the protest participants and impose appropriate legal responsibility on them—this is stated in the Public Defender's statement responding to the October 29, 2025, incident in Tbilisi on Tsotne Dadiani Street during a protest by students and parents of the 10th Public School.

As the Ombudsman notes, the Public Defender's Office will examine the issue of protecting children's safety while exercising their rights to assembly and expression.

"The Public Defender responds to the incident on October 29, 2025, in Tbilisi on Tsotne Dadiani Street, when participants in a peaceful protest by students and parents of the 10th Public School faced deliberate, real danger due to a gross violation of traffic rules.

The Public Defender emphasizes that it is important to ensure a safe and supportive environment for children when exercising freedom of expression. At the same time, it is essential to promptly identify the driver of the vehicle that endangered the protest participants and impose appropriate legal responsibility on them. The Public Defender's representative has already communicated with law enforcement on this matter. The Public Defender's Office will also examine the issue of protecting children's safety while exercising their rights to assembly and expression.

It should be noted that the Public Defender, on its own initiative, is already studying access to quality and uninterrupted education for children—the issue over which the students and their parents are protesting. Relevant information has been requested from the Ministry of Education, Science, and Youth of Georgia for evaluation. The proceedings are ongoing at this stage," the Public Defender's statement reads.

For reference, yesterday a protest was held near the 10th Public School on Tsotne Dadiani Street. Students and parents were demanding space allocation for the 10th Public School and the construction of a new school, blocking the street.

A video circulating on social media shows a car entering the area where protest participants were standing and performing a "drift."

The Ministry of Internal Affairs has initiated administrative proceedings regarding the incident under Articles 123 and 125 of the Administrative Code of Georgia.