Firearm Arrests Made, Suspicion of Plans to Turn Anti-Election Protests Violent

Georgian police arrested seven Ukrainian citizens over the weekend on charges of firearm possession, the Ministry of Internal Affairs now confirms.

There is suspicion over the timing of their appearance in the Georgian capital so soon after the presidential runoff elections and just before mass street protests called for by the political opposition, led by former President Mikheil Saakashvili and losing presidential candidate Grigol Vashadze.

TV channel Rustavi 2 reported that the suspects were staying at the Alliance Hotel on Likhauri Street.

"According to unverified reports," says Interpress News, Georgian soldier Luka Chkhetia was among those arrested. Chkhetia is thought to have been fighting in Ukraine's Eastern Donbas region.

By Samantha Guthrie

Photo: Mapio