22:17, 9 April 2025

Detained Tbilisi protesters complain about law enforcers’ actions

The police detains protesters. Tbilisi, April 7, 2025. Screenshot of a video https://t.me/Tbilisi_life/38706

Two of the three young people have stated the use of excessive force and insults during their detention at the action held near the Georgian Parliament; one of them has marks from a blow in his face. The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) has explained the detention by the fact that the activists refused to clear the road in response to the police demand.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that participants in pro-European protests used to block the avenue near the Georgian Parliament every day since November 28, 2024, demanding new parliamentary elections and the release of political prisoners. During the protests, more than a thousand people were subjected to administrative prosecution. A total of 64 persons were charged under criminal articles in connection with the protests.

On April 7, policemen used force to detain Vato Samkharadze, Tazo Kveselava and Rezi Dumbadze, the "News of Georgia" Agency has reported.

"Rezi Dumbadze was threatened and insulted by the same policeman who had earlier detained him and used violence against him and other detainees," Giorgi Tabatadze, a lawyer, wrote on the Facebook*. The Georgian MIA asserted that the blood on the asphalt on Rustaveli Avenue, which activists noticed on April 7, was not related to protesters’ detentions. According to the MIA, a stray dog bit a man near the Parliament, causing him to bleed.

*On March 21, 2022, the Tverskoi Court of Moscow banned the activities in Russia of the Meta Company, owning the Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, in connection with extremist activities.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on April 8, 2025 at 02:19 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Source: Caucasian Knot