Police make arrests as protest against July 5 violence, counter-demonstration ongoing in Tbilisi
The main demonstration outside the parliament involves political parties, independent citizens and queer activists protesting the violence of July 5, with the group countered by a violent counter-demonstration from across the road. Photo: Nino Alavidze/agenda.ge.
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Police have made arrests on Rustaveli Avenue in Georgia's capital, where a protest involving political opposition and independent citizens against the July 5 violence is being countered by a rally of right-wing groups involved in Monday's incidents against Tbilisi Pride organisers and reporters deployed to cover it.
A large demonstration involving political party figures, activist organisations, Tbilisi Pride organisers and independent citizens started at 8pm local time outside the Parliament of Georgia, to protest the violence against journalists and storming of Pride organisers' offices the day before.
Police are seen making an arrest from among the radical groups attempting to cross their barriers and initiative violence on Rustaveli Avenue:
A counter-demonstration involving right-wing groups was staged in parallel, across the street, starting in the evening, with a line of police and their barriers separating the two demos.
Journalists on the ground have reported "tens" of arrests made by police among the right-wing demonstrators, as sporadic incidents have been reported since an InterPressNews reporter was attacked earlier in the day by unidentified individuals from the groups.
Law enforcement have been reported to have made "tens" of arrests during the evening among the groups attempting to break through law enforcement lines and into the opposing demonstration on Rustaveli Avenue:
The media professionals have also reported observing attempts from the counter-rally of conservative groups to overcome the physical barriers erected by the police and enter the territory designated for the opposite demonstration.
Items being thrown from the counter-protest has also been observed, with water bottles and other objects directed at the main rally reported by the journalists on site.
Citizens and queer activists, including Tbilisi Pride organisers, seen among the main demonstration outside the Parliament of Georgia on Tuesday. Photo: Nino Alavidze/agenda.ge.
The protests follow developments on Monday, when right-wing groups gathered outside the parliament building to prevent the Tbilisi Pride march, a closing event of the week-long programme for highlighting queer rights, from taking place.
After the violent attackers left the reporters injured and stormed the Pride organisers' offices, the LGBTQ activists announced the march would not be held on Monday.
A view from the protest involving political parties, activist groups and independent citizens gathered outside the Parliament of Georgia:
Their announcement included sharp criticism of "shameful" comments from Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili about the Pride event and "inaction" from the interior ministry in protecting its participants.
Garibashvili had said holding Tbilisi Pride was "not reasonable" and could "lead to civic confrontation", while head of the ruling Georgian Dream party Irakli Kobakhidze alleged the queer event represented "the interests of the United National Movement radical opposition and their partner parties".
A journalist has been attacked at a "silent" demonstration outside the Parliament of Georgia held to protest the violent events of July 5, InterPressNews agency has reported. IPN said an unidentified person from a group that interfered with journalists at the scene had attacked the agency's reporter. A "number of people" have been removed from the area by the police, the news agency said, however "tension" was still observed at the site of the protest.
Three out of 11 right-wing activists detained on July 5 for attacking journalists will face criminal charges, while two detainees have been sentenced to three days of administrative detention.
State officials, current and former diplomats and media rights organisations have been reacting to the developments in Tbilisi on Monday, where a right-wing demonstration against a planned Tbilisi Pride march for queer rights attacked reporters gathered to cover the eventually cancelled event before also storming offices of Pride organisers.
Journalists and media representatives in various regions of Georgia held media solidarity rallies earlier today following the violent attacks against journalists yesterday at the Tbilisi Pride march counter rally by right-wing groups.
Injuries to citizens and law enforcement have been reported from ongoing protests on Rustaveli Avenue as items including stones and pieces of iron rods have been observed thrown from violent right-wing counter-demonstrators. Participants of the peaceful protest against July 5 violent scenes have reportedly asked police to use riot units - located nearby according to law enforcement officers - against the violent groups whose attacks have left police professionals and citizens injured.
Police have detained 100 activists of violent right-wing groups who shut down a ‘silent’ demonstration held outside the Parliament of Georgia yesterday to protest the violent events of July 5. "At this stage, 100 people have been detained. Of the detainees, 68 have been released…while 32 remain in temporary detention”, reports the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia.
Violent right-wing groups took over the protest space outside the Parliament of Georgia and burned the European Union and LGBT flags, after the peaceful rally against violent events of the previous day, as well as media crews, were escorted by law enforcement away from Rustaveli Avenue.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Kakha Kuchava has raised the European Union flag in front of the Georgian parliament building in the capital city of Tbilisi this morning after violent right-wing groups burnt EU and LGBT flags last night. The groups shut down a ‘silent’ demonstration held outside the Parliament of Georgia yesterday which was meant to protest the violent events of July 5.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has condemned violence against more than 50 journalists at the Tbilisi Pride counter rally on July 5 committed by right-wing protesters. He also underlined that all individuals will be identified and all guilty parties will be brought to justice.
Five more people have been arrested for group violence, persecution and assault of journalists and three people have been detained for damaging the office of Tbilisi Pride during a right-wing counter rally on July 5. Three of the 32 detainees from the rally of July 6 were fined for administrative violation, the maximum fine of which is 3,500 GEL (about $1,107/€934).