Month: September 2026
Alongside their varied diet, Khrashuna and Khramuna always have branches in their enclosure. They gnaw on the wood, which helps keep their teeth strong.
Porcupines are nocturnal animals. During the day, especially in summer, they prefer to stay in their shelter. They become active in the evening and start looking for food. That is why visitors who come to their enclosure during the day may see nothing more than a nose or head poking out of the burrow.
Tbilisi Zoo‘s history spans nearly a century. It was founded on 10 February 1927 on the basis of the Caucasian Society for the Acclimatisation of Animals, which had been keeping wild animals since the early 20th century, though without official zoo status.
The zoo was originally built on 70 hectares in the Vere River gorge. Over the years, the expansion of the capital — and later the devastating flood of 13 June 2015 — significantly reduced the territory of the old zoo. Today, it covers five hectares and is home to around 1,500 animals, each with its own story. In this video series, we will introduce you to the residents of Tbilisi Zoo.
We will show how their day unfolds, how they interact with other animals and people, and how their behaviour changes depending on the weather and the season. Get ready to hear many fascinating stories.
Porcupines at Tbilisi Zoo
The Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has accepted the case of Georgian activist Irakli Miladze. The case concerns freedom of expression online and administrative proceedings brought against the activist.
The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) asked the court to refer Miladze’s case to the Grand Chamber in August 2026.
According to GYLA chair Tamar Oniani, this means that until the Grand Chamber delivers its judgment, Georgia’s city and appeals courts cannot cite the case as a precedent when restricting freedom of expression on social media.
Irakli Miladze case
In 2022, authorities fined activist Irakli Miladze for using profanity in a video in which he criticised Tbilisi’s transport policy. He directed some of the offensive language at the city mayor, municipal officials and police officers.
Authorities brought the case under Article 166 of the Code of Administrative Offences, which covers petty hooliganism, including the use of obscene language in public places. Tbilisi City Court ordered Miladze to pay 2,000 lari [~$740], but the Court of Appeal reduced the fine to 500 lari [~$185].
On 19 May 2026, the ECHR’s Fourth Section ruled on the case and found that the authorities had not violated Miladze’s freedom of expression, which Article 10 of the Convention protects.
The court found that Miladze’s statements did not form part of a public debate and therefore did not warrant the same level of protection for freedom of expression as statements on matters of political or public interest.
The court also considered the size of the fine and its consequences, noting that the sanction did not prevent Miladze from continuing his civic and political activities. At the same time, the court confirmed that the concept of a “public space” also covers online platforms when they are widely accessible to the public.
The case will now be reconsidered, but this does not mean that the Grand Chamber has already found that Miladze’s rights were violated. In its final judgment, it may uphold the previous ruling or take a different position.
The key question will be whether Miladze’s statements on TikTok were protected by freedom of expression and whether imposing an administrative fine on him was justified.
According to GYLA, the significance of referring the case to the Grand Chamber is further underscored by the fact that, after the May 2026 ruling, the Interior Ministry established a so-called “censorship department”. GYLA says its activities are linked to administrative cases brought against citizens over opinions they post on social media.
Irakli Miladze case