Protesters staying in front of special forces in Tbilisi, November 18, 2019. Photo by Inna Kukudjanova for the Caucasian Knot

19 November 2019, 01:03

18 persons detained during dispersal of protesters in Tbilisi

Policemen have removed protesters' barricades and tents from the parliament building in Tbilisi and detained 18 activists, but the protest rally continued.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that since November 14, a round-the-clock protest action is held in Tbilisi, which began after the failure of the parliamentary vote on the draft to change the electoral system. On November 18, the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) demanded from the protesters not to block the work of the parliament; and special force agents were brought to the venue. After several failed demands to unblock the parliament, policemen began dismantling protesters' tents, and then used water cannon; and the protesters were pushed away from the service entrance to the parliament. Law enforcers also used tear gas to disperse the protesters.

As a result of the dispersal of the protest action in central Tbilisi, the MIA reported the detention of 18 activists suspected of administrative offenses, without specifying the detainees' names. There is information that Zuka Berdzenishvili, a co-organizer of the protest rally, a son of the leader of the Republican Party; Zurab Djaparidze, the leader of the "Girchi" political association; and Beka Basilaya, a rights defender, were among the detainees, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports with reference to the "Rustavi-2" TV Company.

Policemen have removed the tents and pushed the protesters away from the parliament building. After the dispersal of the rally, leaders of oppositional parties went to the "Courtyard Marriott" Hotel to hold consultations with foreign diplomats, but some of the activists stayed in the venue of the rally.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on November 18, 2019 at 09:50 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Author: Galina Gotua Source: CK correspondent

All news
НАСТОЯЩИЙ МАТЕРИАЛ (ИНФОРМАЦИЯ) ПРОИЗВЕДЕН И РАСПРОСТРАНЕН ИНОСТРАННЫМ АГЕНТОМ ООО “МЕМО”, ЛИБО КАСАЕТСЯ ДЕЯТЕЛЬНОСТИ ИНОСТРАННОГО АГЕНТА ООО “МЕМО”.

March 28, 2024 22:19

  • Court extends arrest of blogger Alyona Agafonova

    Alyona Agafonova, a blogger from Samara, accused of desecrating a symbol of military glory because of her video filmed near the monument "The Motherland is Calling!" has been left in custody until June 19.

March 28, 2024 22:13

March 28, 2024 22:03

  • Attack on Crocus City Hall highlights issue of state assistance to victims of terror acts

    In Russia, the status of victims of terror acts should be legislated and state assistance should be guaranteed to them, human rights defenders claim after the terror act at the Crocus City Hall. According to the human rights defenders, the authorities still do not provide full-scale assistance to the victims of the terror act in Beslan and the militant attack on Nalchik.

March 27, 2024 16:51

March 27, 2024 14:49

News archive