Police detained several people in Tbilisi for blocking a road during a protest.

Formula TV presenter Vakho Sanaia and at least seven others were detained for blocking Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi during a protest on October 18.

Protesters in Tbilisi on October 18, the 325th day of protests, blocked traffic on Rustaveli Avenue, but after a request from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which reminded them of the tightening of legislation for violations at mass protests, they opened the road to vehicles.

Leading journalist Vakho Sanaia of the Formula TV channel has been detained.

"Today, regime police arrested Formula TV presenter and journalist Vakho Sanaia. He is accused of participating in a protest under new repressive laws. Formula views his arrest as persecution of the journalist and independent media in general by the regime. In this repressive environment, against a backdrop of severe restrictions on civil rights, the violation of media freedom has become even more evident. This comes as senior EU diplomats discuss the current situation in Georgia, including pressure on the media, tomorrow, October 20. Vakho Sanaia is the anchor of the main news program, as well as the program "Formula of the Week," and he should now prepare to go on air. We demand his immediate release and call on the international community to support him," the television company said in a statement published on its website.

In connection with the protest on Rustaveli Avenue on October 18, police detained several people, including activist Lara Nachkebia.

According to lawyer Nika Simonishvili, Nachkebia was detained for wearing a scarf on the sidewalk.

"The only thing the person is accused of is standing on the sidewalk wearing a scarf and covering her face with it. "They say nothing about blocking the road, which was involved in the blockade. This article provides for arrest for up to 15 days, as is implied by recent amendments," Nika Simonishvili told the Pirveli TV channel.

The lawyer for another detainee reported that his client was detained in the courtyard of a house and told that "they were taking him to court for blocking the road and that they would only issue a fine of 5,000 lari, after which he would be released." He said the Public Defender's Office has intervened to locate his client.

Activist Lasha Chkhartishvili was also detained while walking to his mother's grave. Chkhartishvili told police that he deliberately blocked the road on Rustaveli Avenue and that it was a "political act," Publika reports.

He also reported on social media the arrest of rugby coach Levan Jobava, Levan Margiani, Saba Khomeriki, Ninia Kakabadze, and Nino Svanidze, Tbilisi Life reports.