Activist of the “Georgian Dream” party report dispersal of the participants of an action in Kutaisi by means of fire-engines

The authorities attempted to disperse an action of the youth branch of the oppositional party “Georgian Dream” in the town of Kutaisi by water from fire-engines. A representative of the ruling party was skeptic about this statement of the opposition.

“At midnight local time, May, 2, activists of youth branch of the “Georgian Dream” came out to the action in honour of the Town Day. They marched along the central street and laid out with candlesthe phrase “Gilotsavt Kutaiso!” (“Congratulations to Kutaisi”) over the central square. However, officials of Mayor’s office appeared in the square and tried to throw water from a fire hose on the activists”, Press Secretary of the “Georgian Dream” Maya Pandjikidze said to the “Caucasian Knot” correspondent.

According to her, the fire-engine that arrived later snuffed out the participants’ candles with water, however the young people continued their procession.

Frames of the action in Kutaisi are placed on the web-site of “Palitra” (“Palette”) media holding. Several people marching along the street can be seen on the video. At a crossroad they ran against a fire-engine, two uniformed men were standing beside and pouring water on the asphalt. First the water from the water cannon was directed under the marching people’s feet but several second later the fireman redirected the flush sideways and upwards of the people.

In another frame one can see a flushing machine drive at a high speed along the street and several participants of the procession get under it.

The “Caucasian Knot” has yet no comments from Mayor’s office of Kutaisi concerning the “Georgian Dream’s” statement.