Interior Ministry to ensure public order, freedom of expression at today’s protest rallies

The Georgian Interior Ministry announced that police will ensure safety and public order at the protest rallies in downtown Tbilisi today, as well as the freedom of expression of demonstrators.

• Two protest rallies to be held in Tbilisi today

At the same time, the ministry reminded the demonstrators it is “forbidden to block the entrances and activities of the legislative body [parliament]”.

Interior Ministry as a body responsible for public order, calls on every citizen, organizer of the rally and its participants, to protect public order and obey to the legal demands of police”, the ministry announced ahead of the protest rallies.

The ministry also said that any violation of the law, including an attempt to storm or block an administrative body, will be resolved by the police within the framework of the law.

It also said that the police have been mobilised to ensure citizens’ safety and their freedom of expression during the demonstrations, as well as to ensure that the state institutions continue working unhindered.

• Opposition, demonstrators demand snap elections, transitional gov’t

Opposition and civic activists are holding demonstrations today amid the parliament’s rejection of the electoral bill aimed to move from a mixed electoral system to a proportional one. 

Some parliamentary and nonparliamentary opposition parties will gather in front of the parliament of Georgia in downtown Tbilisi at 3 p.m., while another part - at nearby Republic Square at 5 p.m.