Protest at ruling party HQ ends, 12 detained
The Interior Ministry has announced that the protesters have exceeded the limits allowed by the law on freedom of assembly and expression. Photo: IPN
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The protest at the headquarters of the ruling Georgian Dream party which moved from downtown Tbilisi demanding Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili’s resignation has ended for today.
Twelve protesters were detained for 'exceeded the limits allowed by the law on freedom of assembly and expression', the Ministry of Internal Affairs has reported.
The Georgian Public Broadcaster journalist Irakli Absandze is among the detainees.
Droa’s member Shushana Matsaberidze has just been arrested in front of the @GeorgianDream41’s office. Here’s another look at the amount of Police guarding the territory: pic.twitter.com/uCQGCSVKvt
— Droa (@MovementDroa) July 12, 2021
They will have to hear the appeals of the Georgian people… We want to live in a country where human rights are being protected”, protester Nino Danelia told the Georgian service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
The protest moved from Rustaveli Avenue to the ruling party HQ after the interior ministry provided more details to support its claim that TV Pirveli cameraman Lekso Lashkarava, who was beaten severely at the July 5 Tbilisi pride counter rally, died due to a drug overdose.
The peaceful protesters are now heading towards the head office of @GeorgianDream41. The protest continues after the Ministry of Internal affairs issued a shameful statement blaming the tragic death of Alexandre Lashkarava on possible drug overdose.
— Droa (@MovementDroa) July 12, 2021
The protesters threw eggs and painted the walls of the headquarter with the red paint.
Situation is getting extremely tense, activists, citizens, @Helenkhosh first attempted to spray red paint at the @GeorgianDream41 Head Office building. After eggs were thrown at the building, @MIAofGeorgia started arresting people gathered at the GD HQ. https://t.co/cJyaD82019
— Shame Movement (@Shamemovement) July 12, 2021
Journalists, civil activists and opposition politicians claim that the attack of the right-wing groups against various media representatives on July 5 were planned by the government of Georgia.
PM Garibashvili says the ongoing protest in Tbilisi following the TV Pirveli cameraman’s death is 'classic anti-state, anti-church and anti-national'.