Deputy interior minister: holding rallies at Georgian-Russian border “additional challenge” for police “at such time”
Droa party representatives and civil activists were earlier prevented by the police from holding a protest at the Larsi border checkpoint, and will hold a rally in Gveleti, near the tunnel connected to the checkpoint in Georgia’s north. Photo: Imedi TV
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Georgian deputy minister of internal affairs Aleksandre Darakhvelidze on Wednesday said planned opposition rallies at the Georgian-Russian border “at such a time” would be an “additional challenge” for the police.
Elene Khoshtaria, the leader of the Droa opposition party, and civil activists are planning to hold a rally at the border with the demand of a closure of the border amid a “mass influx” of Russian nationals following the announcement of partial military mobilisation in the country last week.
The ministry of internal affairs will take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of all persons [at the rally]. Of course, holding rallies at such times is an additional challenge for the police, however, we will take all measures prescribed by law to ensure that the rights of all participants in the assembly are protected”, Darakhvelidze said.
Droa party representatives and civil activists were earlier prevented by the police from holding a protest at the Larsi border checkpoint, and will hold a rally in Gveleti, near the tunnel connected to the checkpoint in Georgia’s north.
Givi Mikanadze, an MP for the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday said there was “no need at this stage” to convene a meeting of the national security council, in response to president Salome Zourabichvili who on Tuesday said the government could use the format amid a “mass influx” of Russian nationals following the announcement of partial military mobilisation in the country last week.
Issues related to the challenges of increased border crossings into Georgia were discussed on Tuesday in a meeting between Georgian president Salome Zourabichvili and interior minister Vakhtang Gomelauri.
The Georgian interior ministry on Tuesday released statistics on border crossings to Georgia made by Russian citizens over the last 10 days and detailed rules for entering the country and grounds for refusal, in response to recent claims by the domestic opposition on a “mass influx” of Russian nationals following the announcement of partial military mobilisation in the country last week for Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine.
Lasha Khutsishvili, the minister of finance of Georgia, on Monday said the number of individuals entering and leaving the country had both increased recently, stressing the “situation is under full control” at border checkpoints.