Elena Patyaeva—a friend of Seda Suleymanova, who disappeared three years ago after being forcibly returned from St. Petersburg to Chechnya—was detained in Grozny. On August 23, Patyaeva stood by the monument to journalists who died for freedom of speech, holding a sign that read: "I demand an investigation into the murder of Seda Suleymanova." This was reported by the human rights project "Slovo Zashchite" (Word for the Defense).
At the initiative of the ruling Georgian Dream party, amendments to the law on rallies were submitted to the Georgian parliament for consideration. In particular, organizers of protests will be prohibited from setting up a stage or other structures if they pose a threat to participants and passers-by, interfere with the police’s ability to maintain public order, and pose a threat to the work of the department. The structure cannot be erected if nothing interferes with the event without it.
In case of violation of the rules, the fine will be 5 thousand lari (almost 2 thousand dollars) with confiscation of the structure. The reason for tightening the law, deputies cite the statement of the State Security Service of Georgia about the impending destabilization in the country in October-December, which is organized by the Georgian opposition with the support of Ukraine.