2 released on bail after confessing to crime at June rally in Tbilisi

Giorgi Javakhishvili and Tornike Datashvili, who were detained after the June 20 rally in central Tbilisi, have been released on 2,000 GEL ($669) bail after confessing to the crime today.

Giorgi Javakhishvili and Tornike Datashvili are charged of participating in group activities, including assault, violence, damage of another person’s stuff, as well as contradiction and attacks on government officials.

The Tbilisi protests, which were sparked by the presence of Russian MPs in the Georgian parliament earlier on June 20, turned into a violent clash between protesters and police in front of the parliament of Georgia.

17 civilians and three police officers have been charged so far regarding the June 20 rally, including former Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili and opposition MP Nika Melia, the Georgian Young Lawyers Association says. 

The NGO reports that 67 law-enforcers and four protestors have been recognized as victims.

 The Georgian Chief Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation into police actions during the rally dispersal. 

Then Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia [now the prime minister of Georgia] said in a recent TV interview that the rally became “violent” starting at 10 p.m. following “a systematic and organised” attack on the parliament building on June 20.

Gakharia also said that he gave the order for the rally to be dispersed after some of the demonstrators decided to storm the parliament building.

The dispersal left 240 injured and 305 detained.