UPDATED: Police detain 9 at rally in Tbilisi, two are opposition members

UPDATED: 19:05

Police have detained 9 individuals in a rally in central Tbilisi today, held in relation to a high-profile murder case of two teenage boys in Tbilisi last year.

Among the detainees are representatives of the United National Movement opposition Irakli Nadiradze and Levan Khabeishvili, who are members of Tbilisi City Assembly.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs stated that all the nine individuals have been detained for verbally insulting police and disobeying the command of a law enforcement officer. 

The United National Movement legislator Nikanor Melia was also insulting the police and did not adhere to the lawful demands of law enforcers, the ministry reported.

The law enforcers suspended the unlawful action at the scene. Melia is not detained [as the Member of Parliament’s mandate protects him],” the ministry stated.

Earlier today law enforcers detained six for petty hooliganism and disobedience to police at the rally.

Of the six detained one was out on parole, while another was the citizen of Kazakhstan wanted by Interpol red notice for  robbery and murder.

Four out of the six, the organizers of the rally Zviad Kuprava and Lasha Tsutskiridze among them, have been sent to prison for 14 days for administrative offences.

The Georgian PM mer Saralidze on June 4. Photo: Prime Minister's press office. 

EARLIER: 16:36

Police have detained six individuals in the morning during the rally over the high-profile murder case of two teenagers for petty hooliganism and disobedience to law enforcers.

Of the detainees one turned out to be wanted for robbery, while another was out on parole. 

The people were detained when they tried to block the street and open tents there when they had no permission or necessity for the action.

The Georgian Public Defender Nino Lomjaria stated that the protesters have a right to block the street only in case when they do not have enough space due to the large number of people. 

 I understand the personal emotions of Mr. Zaza [father of one of the killed teenage boys] or any other demonstrator, but it is necessary for the protest to be lawful. Blocking the road will only affect the people using the road,” Lomjaria said.

Father of one of the killed boys Zaza Saralidze renewed protest rallies with the opposition on June 10 as he believes that the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia did not investigate the case and now the Ministry of Internal Affairs "continues to cheat him”.

Over the past several days a chief prosecutor resigned and  the Interior Ministry announced the detention of two individuals for not reporting the crime and another for influencing witnesses.

Despite the steps Saralidze believes that the investigation process is not effective and he is demanding a change of the government together with former member of the  United National Movement opposition Zviad Kuprava.

The Georgian PM Giorgi Kvirikashvili, who personally arrived at one of the rallies organised by Saralidze and Kuprava  and held a personal meeting with Saralidze, stated that the Georgian Dream government has been doing its utmost for a fair investigation of the case and said that the opposition is trying to use the tragedy for its narrow, political interests.