Interior ministry investigates attack on UNM mayoral candidate’s HQ in Rustavi
The opposition United National Movement and its supporters are holding a rally in support of the detained ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili near the Rustavi No. 1 penitentiary facility. Photo: David Mchedlidze/RFERL
Tweet 
Share
The Georgian Interior Ministry has launched an investigation into the recent attack on opposition United National Movement (UNM) headquarter in the town of Rustavi.
UNM mayoral candidate Davit Kirkitadze reported earlier today that the participants of the October 14 anti-opposition rally were among the offenders.
There was an attack on our office, an attempt to rush into [the building] and [our] interfere in ]political activities”, he said.
The Georgian service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports that three people, including the two newly elected UNM members of the City Council (Sakrebulo) have been injured during the incident.
The witnesses meanwhile claim that the ruling Georgian Dream party member of the Sakrebulo Amiran Janjghava was among the offenders.
Photo: Nino alavidze/agenda.ge
UNM chair Nika Melia and other members of the opposition coalition have called on the law enforcers to be punished. They later held a rally at the Rustavi No. 12 penitentiary facility in support of the detained ex. president, Mikheil Saakashvili.
Rustavi is one of the five self-governing cities where the municipal run-offs will be held on October 30 with UNM member Davit Kirkitadze competing with the ruling party candidate Nino Latsabidze.
Calling on everyone for peace the ruling party chair Irakli Kobakhidze has condemned the violence especially ahead of the municipal run-offs.
The opposition United National Movement (UNM) party is holding a rally in the Black Sea town of Batumi. Local leader of the party Mirdat Kamadadze said the ruling Georgian Dream party is in minority in Batumi City Council (Sakrebulo).
The opposition United National Movement (UNM) claims that the government of Georgia is preparing a ‘special operation’ in the western Georgian region of Samegrelo to detain former policemen. Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has denied the UNM’s claims, calling them ‘pure lies’.
A protest rally organized by the opposition United National Movement (UNM) in central Tbilisi demanding the release of ex-president of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili, who was detained on October 1 a day before the municipal elections has ended.
A number of people in western Georgian cities are standing along the highway with brooms to protest the United National Movement (UNM) rally in Tbilisi later today, where demonstrators will demand the release of former president Mikheil Saakashvili from prison.