19 detained, about 30 injured during November 8 opposition rally
First Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Kakha Sabanadze said that yesterday's rally 'went beyond the limits established by the law on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly and developed in a violent manner'. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
Tweet 
Share
During the protest rally on November 8, police detained 19 individuals for 'violating public order and disobedience to a rightful command of the police.’
First Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Kakha Sabanadze reported earlier today that during the rally 14 law enforcement officers, three media representatives and about 10 protesters received various injuries.
Some of the injured received first aid on the spot, while others continue their treatment in various clinics", Sabanadze said.
He said that yesterday's rally 'went beyond the limits established by the law on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly and developed in a violent manner'.
Throughout the day, police were mobilised on Rustaveli Avenue to ensure that the protest rally in front of the Parliament was held in a peaceful environment. After the rally in front of the legislative body, the participants moved to the building of the Central Election Commission. As protesters gathered in front of CEC building, they violently took down police steel cordons, threw stones, blunt objects and attempted to break into the Central Election Commission territory, which was foiled by police'', he said.
The demonstration first started in front of the Parliament building and then moved to the building of the Central Election Commission. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
Sabanadze stated that as the protesters continued 'their violent actions' and ignored the instructions of the police, the Ministry of Internal Affairs had to use 'a special tool - a water cannon due to urgent necessity'.
He said that demonstrators still continued the attempts to break into the Central Election Commission building.
They attacked the law enforcers in groups with steel, blunt and flammable objects and stones, offered resistance and did not obey to their lawful demands. The rally participants apprehended special equipment which is police anti-riot shields... In response police once again applied a water cannon", Sabanadze said.
He said that the investigation had started to take legal responses' to yesterday's rally.
Sabanadze called on the organisers and the participants of the demonstration to 'adhere to the requirements of the law and follow the rightful demands of the police'.
The protest rally in front of the Central Election Commission (CEC) has come to an end after police used water cannons to disperse the demonstrators. Opposition United National Movement (UNM) member Nika Melia has called on the protesters to leave the area for now and gather again at 6 p.m. at Rustaveli Avenue tomorrow.
Local non-governmental organisations Human Rights Education and Monitoring Centre (EMC), Transparency International Georgia (TI) and International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) call on the interior ministry not to use police forces against peaceful demonstrators. Meanwhile, opposition politicians, who refuse to take their parliamentary mandates and demand to hold repeat parliamentary elections, plan to stay at the CEC overnight.
Police have used tear gas and water cannons to disperse demonstrators who marched from central Rustaveli Avenue to the building of the Central Election Commission (CEC) after ruling Georgian Dream party leaders rejected opposition demands to dismiss CEC chair Tamar Zhvania and hold repeat elections.
Opposition politicians and their supporters have gathered in front of the parliament of Georgia on Rustaveli Avenue, demanding repeat parliamentary elections be held. Claiming that the Central Election Commission (CEC) has falsified the results in favour of the ruling Georgian Dream party, opposition politicians are calling on the public to ‘protect their vote’.
The Georgian Dream ruling party has called on opposition parties not to follow radical political groups, return to a constructive mode of action and prepare for the second round of majoritarian elections.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Archil Talakvadze says that the acceptance of October 31 election results is the precondition for holding negotiations with the opposition.
The Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara has held its first session today while the opposition held a rally outside the building of the Supreme Council during which four people were detained.