A friend in prison; me next to the prison

Filmmaker: Mari Gulbiani

A friend in prison; me next to the prison

26.04.25

A solitary protest outside a prison becomes a symbol of freedom, justice, and solidarity

When Dato’s friend is arrested at a protest and sentenced to 10 days in prison, Dato goes to the Zahesi detention center and begins a solo protest. Soon, his sister Salome joins him. Standing side by side in the cold, their quiet determination became a powerful symbol of friendship, freedom, and the courageous stand for truth. This act of solidarity demonstrated the immense power of unity and compassion to the thousands gathering at Georgia’s pro-European protest movement.


Mass protests erupted in Georgia on November 28, 2024, driven by growing public anger over the government’s anti-Western rhetoric, undemocratic legislative changes, and disputed election results.

The government responded to the resistance with brutal crackdowns, followed by a threefold increase in administrative fines, new repressive legislation, and a surge in arrests.