Police Detain 28 People During Rally Dispersal outside Parliament

Police detained 28 people during the rally dispersal outside the Parliament building on Tuesday morning, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia reports.

The Agency says in their statement that representatives of the Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the local self-government warned the organizers/participants of the demonstration and gave them a reasonable time to free the entrances of the legislative body and roadway from artificially created barriers.

“The participants of the demonstration did not clear the entrances of the legislative body in the given deadline. Hence, the protest exceeded the legal scope of the freedom of assembly and expression. In particular, the Law of Georgia on Assemblies and Manifestations was violated, which prohibits blocking the entrances of the legislative body, as well as partial or complete blocking of the traffic if the number of participants does not require this.

As a result of measures taken by the police forces of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the entrances to the legislative body have been cleared.

The police call on all citizens to comply with the requirements of the law.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs takes corresponding steps to respond to each case of violation of the law.

During the demonstration at the Parliament building, 28 persons were detained under Articles 173 (Non-compliance with the lawful order or demand of the law enforcement officer) and 166 (Minor Hooliganism) of the Administrative Offences Code.

Three citizens received various injuries. They were provided with the relevant care at medical institutions,” the statement reads.

Riot police used water cannon to disperse protesters outside parliament in Tbilisi on Tuesday early morning. 

The cleaning service has clean up Rustaveli Avenue. Traffic movement has already been restored there.

Meanwhile, riot police are mobilized at all entrances to the Parliament.

Demonstrators in Tbilisi plan to continue the protest and say they will try picketing the Parliament building again in order not to allow the Georgian Dream lawmakers to hold the Parliament session today.
 
By Ana Dumbadze 
26 November 2019 11:42