Police detain 20 during clashes in front of parliament

Police have detained 20 individuals including United National Movement opposition party members Levan Khabeishvili and Giorgi Kapanadze while they were trying to set up tents in front of the parliament building.

Civic activists and opposition party members have been protesting what they say were rigged parliamentary elections at the end of last year.  

Tents behind the parliament building have been set up since the 2020 parliamentary elections. 

This time activists were planning to set up tents in front of the parliament, though police did not allow them to do so, which led to a dispute with police officers.

Law enforcers have twice prevented the civil activists from setting up tents in front of the parliament building today. Photo: IPN.

Police officers have taken away one tent, though we [activists] will not let them steal another one. No one has the right to restrict the rights of citizens, including criminals disguised as police, because they have no right to take away tents. We [the activists] will bring the tent back”, said Khabeishvili before being detained.

The press office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs said that all the individuals have been detained for ‘disobeying a lawful order of police officers’.

Law enforcers have twice prevented the civil activists from setting up tents in front of the parliament building today.