Interior Minister thanks police for showing restraint when dealing with opposition on inauguration day

Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia has thanked the police for showing restraint when dealing with opposition activists yesterday on inauguration day.

Opposition members attempted to protest in the town of Telavi and hold a rally there during the inauguration of Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili.

Gakharia also apologised to the police for the insults and injuries they have sustained.

He said that 10 policemen were  hospitalised after a brawl with opposition members on the Telavi-Gurjaani highway.

Gakharia vowed that “no matter who violated the law and abused the police, everyone will be held accountable."

The clash between the rally participants and the police near the village Velistsikhe. Video by Georgian Public Broadcaster. 

Deputy Interior Minister Natia Mezvrishvili said that the policemen received injuries and police cars and technical equipment were damaged during the clash.

Opposition will start rallies tomorrow, Grigol Vashadze says. Photo: Grigol Vashadze's press office.

She stated that the police has taken actions to identify all individuals who did so.

Gakharia stated that the all the routes for the inauguration ceremony were previously agreed and the opposition was allowed to come to Telavi via the Kvareli road. However, the opposition claims that they did not know that.

The opposition tried to arrive in Telavi via the Gombori Pass. However, the pass was open only to certain people. Then they chose the Telavi-Gurjaani route, where the police stopped them.

The opposition stated that four of their members were injured “as they were attacked by police.” The police is also investigating these allegations.

Today, the presidential election runner-up Grigol Vashadze stated that the opposition is launching “peaceful rallies” from tomorrow and the rallies will take place every day.

The united opposition is categorically demanding snap parliamentary elections, the change of the election administration, only the proportional parliamentary elections and the punishment of all those who participated in the fabrication of the 28 November presidential race,” Vashadze said.

The inauguration ceremony of the first female President of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili took place yesterday.

Local and international organizations stated that the elections were conducted with certain violations. However, the violations could not put the legitimacy of Zurabishvili under the question mark.