Police have given 30 minutes to demonstrators to allow MPs in as the protesters have blocked all entrances of the legislative body starting yesterday, protesting the rejection of the ruling Georgian Dream party proposed election bill on the move to a fully proportional electoral system, the Georgian Public Broadcaster reports.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia later confirmed that the demonstrators have been given time to leave the entrances of the parliament building.
The 9th article of the law on assembly and manifestation has been violated by demonstrators.The article bans blocking the entrances of parliament and hampering the work of the legislative body. When the given time is expired we will act in line with law," the Interior Ministry said.
Special unit forces and demonstrators are standing face-to-face at the parliament building, with demonstrators fearing that police may disperse the rally.
The Georgian Interior Ministry has urged demonstrators earlier today to remove barriers from the parliament building and allow MPs to hold a meeting which should have been conducted at 3 p.m. today.
The ruling party says that the United National Movement and “and its branches” wish unrest as they have a “zero chance” to win the 2020 elections.
The ruling party has refused to discuss any new initiatives regarding the electoral system, responding to the protests in Tbilisi demanding a fully proportional electoral system from 2020.
Secretary General of the ruling party, Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze has stated after a party meeting earlier today that the 2020 parliamentary elections will be held with a mixed-electoral system, as parliament rejected the ruling party proposed bill on the move to the fully proportional elections last Thursday.
He stated that the “United National Movement opposition and its branches” stand behind current protests in Tbilisi as “the parties have no public support and wish unrest to somehow return to power.”
Law enforcers at parliament now. Photo: netgazeti.
The ruling party accepted the conduct of 2020 parliamentary elections on a fully proportional system amid the June public protests in Tbilisi, as it was one of the three demands of demonstrators to stop rallies.
The ruling party proposed bill on holding 2020 parliamentary elections per a fully proportional voting system and a zero per cent entry threshold was scrapped last week as only 101 MPs voted for it instead of mandatory 113 in the 150-member parliament [40 ruling party MPs did not vote for the bill].