Georgian security forces reportedly detain over 100 protesters

Ivanna Kostina, Roman Petrenko — Saturday, 30 November 2024, 08:46

The Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs has reported the detention of 107 people at a rally near the parliament building.

Source: SOVA, a Georgian news outlet, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The ministry said that most of the detainees "put up verbal and physical resistance to the police".

"People on Rustaveli Avenue threw various items, stones, pyrotechnics, glass bottles and iron items at law enforcement officers. As a result of the protesters' actions, 10 police officers were injured. They remain in a medical facility. One policeman has burns on various parts of his body," the Interior Ministry said in a statement.

The ministry said that despite numerous appeals, people gathered near the parliament caused damage to the infrastructure of the Tbilisi municipality and individuals, set fire to various things and wires, erected barricades, damaged the entrance gates and video surveillance cameras of the Interior Ministry.

"To restore law and order, officers used special assets provided for by law. Under Articles 166 and 173 of the Administrative Code, 107 people were detained for disobeying a police officer’s order and disorderly conduct," the Interior Ministry said in a written statement.

Background:

On Thursday, 28 November, Georgia's Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze of the ruling Georgian Dream party confirmed that Tbilisi would not be negotiating EU membership "until the end of 2028". His statement came after the European Parliament adopted a resolution not to recognise the outcome of the recent elections.
Several Georgian ministries have already criticised this decision. President Salome Zourabichvili later stated that the ruling party had declared war on its own people.
That evening, a large demonstration took place under the walls of the parliament in Tbilisi and there were clashes with the police. Protesters were brutally dispersed with water cannons and tear gas. The security forces used physical violence against people, including journalists and their equipment. The protest continued on Friday evening, and police again used violence against the protesters.

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