Eight persons detained at protest action in Tbilisi

Tbilisi policemen have detained the activists who tried to set up a tent at a protest action timed to the 100th anniversary of the adoption of the first Georgian Constitution. The activists treated law enforcers' actions as a violation of their right to the freedom of assembly.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on February 19, in Tbilisi, 10 activists were detained after they tried to set up tents near the parliament building. The police said the reason for their detention was disobedience to law enforcers' demands.

According to the police, law enforcers "had repeatedly offered" the protesters an alternative place to set up tents and urged them to obey their legal demands, the TASS reports.

The activists had planned to read out lectures on the history of Georgia from the tents. According to their version, policemen have unreasonably restricted the freedom of assembly guaranteed by the Constitution, the "Sputnik Georgia" has noted.

Let us remind you that on February 16, the Georgian Parliament deprived Nika Meliya, the head of the "United National Movement" (UNM) Party, of his parliamentary immunity because he is accused of organizing group violence. On February 17, the court ruled to arrest the oppositionist, but Meliya did not obey. Local NGOs demanded from the Prosecutor's Office to check the legality of the court order to arrest Nika Meliya, and his supporters decided to continue round-the-clock vigils at the party building to prevent the arrest of the party leader.