Police detain 2 for assaulting opposition United National Movement supporters in Marneuli
Members of opposition UNM party Gia and Lasha Kveladze were injured during clashes in Marneuli on September 29. Photo: Netgazeti
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Georgian police have detained two individuals over the September 29th clash in Marneuli district between supporters of the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party and opposition United National Movement (UNM).
The Georgian Interior Ministry reported earlier today that on the evening of September 29, they verbally and physically assaulted two supporters of the UNM and their accompanying person on Rustaveli street in Marneuli.
Officers of Kvemo Kartli #Police Department under the MIA, as a result of operative-investigative activities,detained 2 persons on the fact of confrontation that took place in #Marneuli on September 29https://t.co/yAzjuiFnOy
— MIA of Georgia (@MIAofGeorgia) October 3, 2020
Supporters of the UNM gathered at the party office in Marneuli demanding the detention of all Georgian Dream supporters who took part in the clash in front of the Marneuli District Election Commission (DEC) last week.
The Interior Ministry released the video footage of detention:
UNM member Davit Kirkitadze said the detention of only those two individuals is not enough. He claimed that the clash was organised by the Marneuli DEC chair and the head of the GD headquarter.
The entire country has witnessed the violence from the Georgian Dream and the Marneuli officials, who are also GD supporters”, Kirkitadze said, urging police to detain ‘everyone from the organizer to the performer’.
Meanwhile, acting Marneuli mayor Zaur Dargali who is also GD majoritarian candidate accused the UNM for staging provocations.
Head of Elections Headquarters of ruling Georgian Dream party, former parliament speaker Irakli Kobakhidze has made a statement regarding last night's clashes between Georgian Dream and the United National Movement (UNM) supporters in Marneuli and said that he is sure 'we will see people behind bars today or tomorrow'.
Another incident took place in Marneuli yesterday between members of the ruling Georgian Dream and the opposition United National Movement during which several people, including two journalists and two cameramen of the Mtavari Arkhi TV, as well as a cameraman of the Public Broadcaster, were injured.
An incident took place near the Marneuli District Election Commission between supporters of the ruling Georgian Dream and opposition United National Movement (UNM) parties today. The commission chairman said a group of people tried to break into the commission building and 'obstruct their work', after which one of the commission members was physically assaulted.
About 10 members of the ruling Georgia Dream party have been injured and two of them are in critical condition after a confrontation with United National Movement members in the village of Nakhiduri of Bolnisi yesterday, says majoritarian candidate of the Georgian Dream for Bolnisi-Dmanisi-Tetritskaro-Tsalka Gogi Meshveliani.
Georgian police have detained two individuals affiliated with the opposition United National Movement party for assaulting the supporters of the ruling Georgian Dream party during the clashes in the municipalities of Bolnisi and Marneuli on September 27 and September 29 respectively.
Police have detained four individuals for group violence against Temur Shubitidze, the ruling Georgian Dream party member and an advisor to the chairman of the Marneuli City Council (Sakrebulo).
Vice Parliement Speaker of Georgia Giorgi Kakhiani said that Rashad Musaev, supporter of the opposition Lelo for Georgia party, has threatened to kill ruling Georgian Dream party majoritarian candidate Savalan Mirzoev.
The ruling Georgian Dream party has reported that its office in Dmanisi municipality in Kvemo Kartli region was raided by the opposition representatives. GD Executive Secretary Irakli Kobakhidze told Rustavi 2 TV that this was ‘a severe provocation’.
The United National Movement opposition party has dismissed allegations that its members raided the ruling Georgian Dream party office in Dmanisi, Kvemo Kartli region, yesterday and attacked local members of the Georgian Dream.
Chairman of Dmansi City Council Merab Okriashvili has been attacked and injured earlier today, though police have yet to identify the attackers.