Arrested veterans of war are waiting for the beginning of the process in the Municipal Court of Tbilisi

Seven veterans of war arrested during an action of protest in Tbilisi have by the moment been taken to the building of the Municipal Court where they are waiting for the beginning of a trial, lawyer Gela Nikolaishvili told a reporter of "Caucasian Knot".

It should be reminded that on January, 3, representatives of Georgian police dispersed an action of protest of veterans of war in Tbilisi with the use of force. Several people were detained. Four veterans were placed in the preliminary isolation ward of the Chief Police Department of Tbilisi. According to Deputy Lordkipanidze, the detained feel all right and they have been allowed to contact their families.

Gela Nikolaishvili acts for the detained veterans and their supporters. He told a reporter of "Caucasian Knot" that out of the seven detained only four were veterans of the wars of 1991-1993 (Georgian-Abkhazian conflict) and of 2008 (five-days war in South Osetia), the rest were supporters of the action of protest, two of them representatives of the Georgian party.

The attorney said the total number of the detained was 15. He and representatives of Association of Young Lawyers of Georgia are going to act for them.

Criminal proceedings have been started against those detained according to clauses 166 and 173 of the Criminal code of Georgia (disorderly conduct and resistance to representatives of the bodies of law and order). The clause stipulates 90 days of administrative confinement or a fine to the sum of 400 lari (224 dollars).

On the same day, i.e. today, at 14 o'clock, in Heroes square where the war veterans were on a hunger strike representatives of political parties and public activists will hold an action in the veterans' support.