Protesters blocked traffic in central Tbilisi amid arrests of demonstrators

Participants in the daily protest on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi blocked traffic despite warnings from police. At least seven participants of the October 18 protest were arrested for artificially restricting traffic and hiding their faces.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," protesters in Tbilisi on October 18, the 325th day of protests, blocked traffic on Rustaveli Avenue. However, after a request from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which reminded them of the tightening of legislation for violations at mass protests, they reopened the road to vehicles. Formula TV presenter Vakho Sanaia and at least seven others were detained for blocking Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi during the October 18 protest. Police reported 14 arrests, one of whom, artist Levan Margiani, was arrested for six days for artificially blocking a roadway. Activist Tornike Tkhilava was released with a verbal warning.

Today, participants in the daily protest rally reached the Georgian Parliament building, but at the beginning of the rally, they did not block traffic, grouping instead near the legislative building.

However, later, the protesters blocked traffic on Rustaveli Avenue, Interpressnews reports.

Police asked them to move off the road — "Otherwise, measures stipulated by law will be applied," Publika reports.

In the Rustaveli district, police are stopping citizens for identification purposes. A Ministry of Internal Affairs drone is also hovering over the avenue, likely filming for identification purposes, Tbilisi reports. Life.

Near the metro, dozens of criminal police officers stopped "Grandma Aza," a displaced person from Abkhazia and a protest participant, taking her medical mask, photographer Giorgi Mosiashvili [Mo Se] reported on social media.

Several of those detained in connection with the protest have been arrested.

Judge Manuchar Tsatsua sentenced Formula journalist Vakho Sanaya to six days in prison for blocking a road, the television company reported. "There was no artificial blocking of the road; it was an expression of protest against the regime. This is the most natural thing happening on Rustaveli today," he said in court.

The same judge found that Saba Khomeriki, Gela Gamkrelidze, and Nino Svanidze violated the rules for holding protests. The judge sentenced Nino Svanidze to five days of administrative arrest, and Saba Khomeriki to eight days. Gela Gamkrelidze was released from the courtroom and given a verbal warning. The ruling was made by Judge Manuchar Tsatsua, Interpressnews reports. "I didn't know I was breaking the law; a police car blocked the road. I approached the road where the crowd was and walked out onto the road, in the flow of people, for 20 minutes. I had no protest, and I don't have one now. I happened to be there, and the road was blocked. A police car blocked it, then they put up tape. "I stopped there out of curiosity," Gela Gamkrelidze said at the hearing.

The judge also separated Vakhtang Machavariani's case into separate proceedings, as he mentioned health problems during the hearing, and the judge gave him time to present a document confirming this. He was released in the courtroom.

Judge Zviad Tsekvava also found the detained Giorgi Kiasashvili an administrative offender and sentenced him to six days of administrative arrest for covering his face during the protest on Rustaveli Avenue on October 18. Lasha Nachkebia was also sentenced to four days of arrest.

As a reminder, the Georgian Parliament adopted a bill on tougher penalties for violations at protests, including blocking roads, on an expedited basis two days after the attempted storming of the presidential palace. Wearing a mask at a rally or blocking a road is punishable by 15 days of administrative arrest. If the violator is an organizer, the sentence is increased to 20 days. If the police demand that the rally be stopped, failure to comply will result in up to 60 days of arrest. A similar sentence applies for carrying firearms or pyrotechnics at a rally. Amendments to the Criminal Code introduce imprisonment of up to one year for repeated violations of the rules for participating in protests and up to two years for subsequent violations.

On October 4, the day of municipal elections, thousands of people gathered in central Tbilisi. After opera singer Paata Burchaladze declared that power in Georgia belongs to the people, clashes between protesters and security forces erupted near the presidential palace. Security forces used riot gear, while protesters used firecrackers. Six demonstrators and 21 security forces were hospitalized, and another 30 people received medical treatment on the spot. Police have opened a criminal case in connection with calls to overthrow the government, an attack on police officers, and the storming of the palace.

Caucasian Knot is posting materials about the recent municipal elections and protests by opposition supporters on the thematic page "Georgia: Elections Amid Protests".