10 Arrested at Parliament as Police Removes Protesters’ Tents

Ten individuals, mostly civic activists, have been detained at parliament in Tbilisi earlier today for disobedience to police and hooliganism as police removed tents from the scene and placed New Year attractions for children instead. 

A member of the Shame civic movement Giga Makarashvili says that Zuka Berdzenishvili, Beka Kokaia, Beka Basilaia and Romeo Parulava are among the detainees, adding that demonstrations for the fully proportional electoral system will resume after New Year days.

City Hall says they had warned demonstrators about arranging children's playground and Christmas market in Parliament area for New Year's Day. 

"The City Hall has informed the rally participants in advance about arranging a children's playground and Christmas market in the area of Parliament for the New Year's Day. The on-site infrastructure has been removed without any resistance and will be handed over to the owner if requested," the Tbilisi City Hall said.

Rallies in Tbilisi were sparked after parliament rejected the ruling party-proposed election bill in mid-November. 

The bill allowed the early transition to a fully proportional system starting from 2020 instead of scheduled 2024. 

The opposition and civic activists are accusing the government of “deliberately rejecting” the bill. 

By Ana Dumbadze