170 interrogated for possible abuse of power by police during Tbilisi rallies
The Georgian Chief Prosecutor’s Office has briefed the public regarding the investigation into the dispersal of the June 20 rally. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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The Georgian Chief Prosecutor’s Office says that 170 people have been interrogated during an investigation looking into the possible use of excessive force during the June 20 rally dispersal in central Tbilisi.
The Prosecutor’s Office says that the 170 include witnesses, victims and employees of different media outlets who were at the scene during the incident.
We have obtained the medical histories of the victims from 15 hospitals, as well as rubber bullets used by police that night and other items. They are being studied by experts,” the statement reads.
The Prosecutor’s office says that they have requested footage from media outlets which depicts June 20 developments.
Protests in Tbilisi are going to an end. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
We have hundreds of video clips and they are being studied,” the Prosecutor’s Office says.
10 police officers have been suspended from duty for possible abuse of power during the rally and the head of the Interior Ministry Special Tasks Department has been temporarily dismissed because of the investigation.
Rallies in Tbilisi were sparked after Russian MP Sergey Gavrilov took the seat of the Georgian parliamentary speaker early on June 20 and addressed the audience during the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy.
People took to the streets as they believed that Gavrilov, from the occupant country, must not have been allowed to take the high tribune in the Georgian legislative body.
The government says that the “justified protest” of the Georgian people was used by the “destructive opposition” to attack state institutions.
Deputy Interior Minister Natia Mezvrishvili said earlier today that police were attacked during the rally and they were forced to defend themselves and use force, leaving 240 injured.
The opposition places the whole responsibility for the rallies onto the government and accuse the authorities of using lethal weapons, like bear bullets, during the dispersal, the allegation which is strongly dismissed by the state leadership.
Deputy Interior Minister Natia Mezvrishvili says that police were attacked during the June 20 rally in Tbilisi and they were forced to defend themselves and use force. Mezvrishvili says that it is less important who made the order, or whether the police acted without the order of top officials.
Starting from today Tbilisi rallies will be focused on communication, changing the public’s views, and discussions, organisers say.“We will gather in front of the parliament building, read poems, discuss various issues, show films, discuss the films, etc.,” one of the organisers of the protests, Shota Digmelashvili said.
Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze says that the “destructive and irresponsible” calls and appeals by the opposition transformed “a peaceful and justified” rally in Tbilisi into unrest on June 20 and the opposition members carry responsibility for that, commenting on recent charges against United National Movement MP Nika Melia.
The Georgian Chief Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation into police actions during the June 20-21 rallies in central Tbilisi, which left 305 detained and 240 injured.
The Georgian Interior Ministry said four people have been detained for participating in group violence during the clash of June 20 in front of the parliament of Georgia. Police say that the four other individuals, who participated in the group violence in front of the parliament, attacked police officers and resisted arrest.
The Georgian Interior Ministry has released a video depicting how four individuals who have been charged with vioplence at the June 20 Tbilisi demonstration use batons and other items to attack police.
One more special forces employee has been detained for "abuse of power" during the dispersal of the Tbilisi protests on June 20-21. The Georgian Chief Prosecutor’s Office, which is investigating possible abuse of power by law enforcers, reported that the officer injured two demonstrators.
Employee of the Special Tasks Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Levan Imerlishvili, who was detained yesterday for possible abuse of power during the rally dispersal on Rustaveli Avenue on June 20, has been sent to pre-trial detention.