Protest Escalates at Rustaveli after PM Appears at Rally

The situation at the Rustaveli Avenue protest became tense tonight after the Prime Minister of Georgia, Giorgi Kvirikashvili, arrived on the scene at the old building of Parliament and tried to address the demonstrators. However, the people did not let him speak and started shouting “Go away!” and “Quit!”

Kvirikashvili waited for the crowd to calm down but the situation further escalated when a number of protesters started throwing bottles and other objects in his direction.

A group of people became aggressive and tried to approach the PM, but his bodyguards managed to keep him safe and he left to avoid further clashes.

The protest started after Tbilisi City Court announced the verdict in the case of the stabbing of two teenage boys in which two minors detained for the murder were found guilty.

The judge found one of the detainees guilty for premeditated murder of one of the victims- Levan Dadunashvili, while another detainee was found guilty for attempted murder of another victim- Davit Saralidze. But the court was not able to say who in fact killed Saralidze.

After the trial, the father of Davit Saralidze went to the Chief Prosecutor’s Office, asking for a “fair investigation.”

Chief Prosecutor Irakli Shotadze resigned shortly before the protest rally began.

By Thea Morrison

Photo and video source: Netgazeti

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