Two UNM supporters detained for assaulting Georgian Dream supporters in Bolnisi, Marneuli
Deputy Interior Minister Vladimer Bortsvadze has announced that a total of four individuals were detained for violence during the recent clashes between the political parties in Bolnisi and Marneuli. Photo: Interior Ministry press office
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Georgian police have detained two individuals affiliated with the opposition United National Movement (UNM) party for assaulting the supporters of the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party during the clashes in the municipalities of Bolnisi and Marneuli on September 27 and September 29 respectively.
The Georgian Interior Ministry reported today that one of the detained individuals used a blunt object to injure supporters of the Georgian Dream party, while another individual physically assaulted a member of the local district election commission.
The ministry also reported that two other individuals affiliated with the ruling party were detained over the clash in Marneuli yesterday. The crime is punishable by two years in prison.
#Police detained 4 persons in connection with the cases of violence that took place in #Bolnisi & #Marneuli
— MIA of Georgia (@MIAofGeorgia) October 4, 2020
Press briefing of the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Vladimer Bortsvadze:https://t.co/DoTWU5rAjx
Deputy Interior Minister Vladimer Bortsvadze announced at a recent briefing that the ministry will spare no efforts to ‘maintain rule of law and ensure that elections are held in free, democratic and secure environment’.
Each employee of the agency attaches significant responsibility to fulfilling of this task and makes rapid response to every single incident”, Bortsvadze said adding that they will not let ‘violent developments of the scenario’.
Bortsvadze said they are ready to cooperate with everyone from the Public Defenders Office to local and international civil society organisations to ensure ‘high level of democracy in the electoral process’.
He further called on representatives of political parties and their supporters ‘to refrain from violent actions to ensure that elections are held in a peaceful, democratic and secure environment’.
Otherwise, each offender will be faced to criminal liability regardless of their political affiliations”, the ministry announced.
A clash between the supporters of the ruling Georgian Dream party and opposition United National Movement took place in the village of Nakhiduri of Bolnisi on September 27; two days later another clash took place in Marneuli.