Several opposition activists detained at UNM rallies in Tbilisi

The US government has called on Georgian authorities to take steps to ensure the country’s former president, Mikheil Saakashvili’s, urgent psychological and physical needs, US Department of State Spokesperson Ned Price stated yesterday. The Department of State also encouraged the Georgian government to treat Saakashvili ‘fairly and with dignity,’ noting that they are ‘closely observing’ the situation around the former president. 

The opposition United National Movement (UNM) members and supporters have gathered in front of the parliament building this evening in Georgia’s capital of Tbilisi, demanding former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili’s release from prison. The UNM chairman Nika Melia announced that rallies will be held in several locations of Tbilisi from tomorrow.

The United National Movement (UNM) opposition party is holding a rally in front of the building of the Ministry of Justice of Georgia in Tbilisi, following yesterday's transfer of former president Mikheil Saakashvili to Gldani prison hospital ‘against his will.’ The party is demanding the transportation of Saakashvili to a civil clinic, his release from prison and the annulment of recent municipal election results. 

Georgian Public Defender Nino Lomjaria has stated that the Gldani No.18 prison hospital, where ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili was transferred earlier today, is not provided with two medical devices - MRT and catheterisation equipment - that were recommended by the medical council.

Georgian law enforcement arrested 46 individuals at rallies organized by the United National Movement (UNM) in Tbilisi earlier today, including at the buildings of the State Security Service and the Ministry of Health. The Georgian Interior Ministry says the UNM activists violated the law of assembly and demonstration, attempting to block state buildings and disobeying police officers. 

Georgian Public Defender Nino Lomjaria has responded to the arrests of 46 citizens on today's United National Movement (UNM) rallies, saying that some families have not been informed about the whereabouts of the arrested. The Ombudswoman said that her representatives have visited 23 arrested citizens during the day. However, some detainees still cannot be located by their lawyers and families.

Two citizens have been injured by stones thrown during a United National Movement (UNM) rally held in front of the State Security Service (SSS) building. The stones, supposedly thrown from the roof of the residential building near the SSS, have been handed to the police for investigation.

The opposition Girchi - More Freedom party members on Friday blocked entrances of the State Security Service offices in six cities in Georgia, with police later removing the vehicles of the party leaders cars.

Tbilisi City Court has sentenced the opposition United National Movement (UNM) supporter Zviad Kuprava, who was among the 46 protesters detained at the November 10 UNM rally, to five days of administrative detention. Some other detainees have been fined, while the rest are awaiting the court's decision.

Girchi - More Freedom opposition party leader Zurab Girchi Japaridze has been fined, while 10 of his party members have been detained after blocking the entrances to State Security Service (SSS) buildings in six Georgian cities. Party members blocked the SSS office entrances with their cars as a form of protest, demanding the imprisoned former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili's transfer from prison hospital to a civil clinic, as well as a fully proportional electoral system and snap elections.

Three opposition activists who were arrested at a solidarity rally for the currently imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili in November have been released on ₾5,000 ($1,800) bail for each on Friday by Tbilisi City Court.