Father of former Georgian Interior Minister holds protest near his house

Today, Roland Akhalaya, a majoritarian parliamentary candidate of the "United National Movement" in the city of Zugdidi and a former prosecutor of the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti, held a protest action at his house. He said that his election campaign was impeded and accused some journalists of provocations.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that yesterday, September 20, it became known that Roland's son Bacho Akhalaya resigned from the post of the Minister of Interior. According to his story, the reason for his resignation was in the facts of torture revealed in Gldani Prison and mass protest actions. Today, the media announced that an operation to detain the ex-minister is now underway in Georgia - this was demanded by the protesters.

Late on September 20, an incident involving journalists of the agency "For.ge" happened near the house of the candidate from the "United National Movement". According to the journalist Nana Pazhava, a filming team went to Roland Akhalaya to check the details of his departure from Zugdidi and get his comment about his son's resignation from the post of the interior minister.

The versions of further developments differ. Ms Pazhava said that with appearance of the journalists, Akhalaya's neighbours, aggressive-minded with respect to mass media, began approaching the house. According to her story, soon the owner of the house went out, "he treated journalists as cruds and together with the neighbours used force," the radio station "Echo of the Caucasus" reports.

According to the version of Roland Akhalaya, announced today at his protest action, the journalists did not let him hold his election campaign, and "in this context they got quite a tough response from the candidate and supporters of the 'United National Movement'." He also said that "certain people who call themselves journalists attacked him."

The incident was also discussed today at a press conference held by Kakha Mikaya, an activist of the organization "Choice is with me", who accused the father of ex-minister of insulting the journalists and demanded an investigation of the incident, the "Georgia Online" reports.

According to his version, Akhalaya abused journalists, who asked questions, physically and verbally. "This reaction is unacceptable in a civilized society," the "News.ge" quotes the activist.

Let us note here that the father of ex-Interior Minister Bacho Akhalaya continues his election campaign. This information was confirmed today by Nana Okudjava, the chairperson of the constituency election commission No. 67 of Zugridi, who said that Roland Akhalaya had not addressed the commission with a request to withdraw his majoritarian candidacy from the parliamentary elections, the GHN reports.