14:03, 20 November 2019

In Tbilisi, court releases all detained activists

Policemen and special forces vehicles during dispersal of a rally at the parliament building in Tbilisi. Photo by Inna Kukudjanova for the Caucasian Knot

The court decided to release 37 activists detained during a dispersal of a protest action held in front of the Georgian parliament building. Administrative court hearings in cases on failure to obey to the police and disorderly conduct are scheduled for today.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that starting from November 14, a round-the-clock protest action is being held in Tbilisi. The protest began after MPs failed to pass a bill to change the electoral system. On November 18, law enforcers used a water cannon and tear gas to disperse the rally. 37 activists were detained.

The people who have come out to Tbilisi streets are demanding to remove Bidzina Ivanishvili, the leader of the ruling party, from power, dismiss the government and hold early parliamentary elections "under an interim government and in the conditions of an independent electoral administration."

At night on November 20, a judge pronounced a decision to release all the detained activists. The administrative court hearings, postponed several times, are to be continued in the Tbilisi City Court today. The detainees face fines or 15 days of arrest.

Supporters of the activists reacted to the court's decision to release 36 detainees with applauding and chanting the slogan: "Change!"

The protesters and their advocates insist there is no evidence to support the guilt of the detained activists in failure to obey to the police and disorderly conduct.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on November 20, 2019 at 10:40 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Author: Galina Gotua

Source: CK correspondent