Interior Minister says investigation launched on “violent attacks” on representatives of domestic opposition, transparency bill demonstrators

Georgian Interior Minister Vakhtang Gomelauri on Thursday said his office had launched an investigation into “violent attacks” by unknown individuals on representatives of domestic opposition and participants of protests against the controversial domestic bill on transparency of foreign influence.

Gomelauri was commenting after a group of individuals on Wednesday physically assaulted Dimitri Chikovani, the Secretary of Public Relations and Communications of the opposition United National Movement party, near his residential house, while the brother of Zurab Girchi Japaridze, the leader of the Girchi - More Freedom opposition party, and several activists were also physically assaulted.

In his comments, the Minister condemned “all kinds of violence against anyone, both against [political] opposition and citizens”, and noted the investigation would look into “all facts”.

The Minister also made comments on recent arrests of six individuals for alleged assaults on a police officer and damage to property during a recent series of public protests over the draft law.

The official said the investigation on this case was ongoing to identify other individuals involved in the offences, and noted the Ministry had been processing a “lot of footage, as well as information” for the purpose.