Protesters in Georgia called police demands absurd

Protesters in Tbilisi decided not to hold a march today, instead gathering outside the Georgian Parliament. The security forces' demands to leave the sidewalk outside the building following the entry into force of amendments to the Law on Assemblies and Manifestations are absurd, protesters said. Protesters in Batumi also expressed their protest against the new law.

As reported by the " Caucasian Knot ," supporters of Georgia's European integration held another march in Tbilisi on the 384th day of continuous protests. The head of the patrol police warned participants of the rally near parliament that their  unauthorized protests would be considered a violation of the law. On December 17, the 385th day of protests, police called on those gathered not to violate the Law on Assemblies and Manifestations, which requires approval for public demonstrations near government buildings. One activist was detained.

The protest on Rustaveli Avenue has resumed. Participants have stated that there will be no protest march today. Citizens brought flags of the European Union and Georgia to the parliament building. Police patrols have been mobilized outside the parliament building.

The protesters' demands remain unchanged: new parliamentary elections and the release of those detained during the protests, Interpressnews reports.

"Yesterday the police demanded that we move off the sidewalk. Then I asked this question: yes, but where should we go?! From sidewalk to sidewalk, to another sidewalk, separate a little, r"Toss it around, pull it together, move to another street?! Do we really have to go home?! These questions demonstrate the absurdity of this law," Publika quotes one of the leaders of Freedom Square, Simon Dzhanashia. 

Today, a protest is also taking place outside the government building in Adjara. Commenting on the tightening of laws on mass protests, protesters stated that the authorities will not succeed in intimidating activists and that they will continue their fight for a European future.

According to them, Georgian Dream is afraid of protests. "They can't create humane conditions for the two million people remaining in the country. They fear for their positions and their power. They have left Georgian citizens and immigrants outside the constitutional framework. 'Dream' has no legal force," InterPressNews quotes one of the protesters in Batumi as saying.

* Meta (which owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp) is banned in Russia.