Georgian Deputy Interior Minister urges citizens “not to go beyond limits of law” at rallies against Gov’t announcement of halt of EU accession talks

Georgia’s Deputy Interior Minister Aleksandre Darakhvelidze on Friday urged citizens “not to go beyond the limits defined by the law”, by stating the law enforcement officers would “resort to special means of coercion envisioned by international law and Georgian legislation to prevent violent actions”.

Darakhvelidze called on rally participants and organisers to “refrain from possessing any object or substance” that created an “actual risk of disrupting the peaceful nature of the assembly”, adding law enforcement officers would be mobilised today for the scheduled protests to maintain the rule of law.

He explained the law banned participants in assemblies from carrying firearms, explosive, flammable, radioactive substances or cold steel and other objects or substances, as well as alcoholic beverages, and block the traffic roadway with vehicles, various constructions or objects, and to damage buildings, monuments, and other facilities during protests.

Darakhvelidze further reminded rally organisers and participants that Georgia’s legislation “accurately defines the legal frames for the conduction of the assembly and manifestation so that to ensure the peaceful nature of the assembly, public safety, proper functioning of various institutions and the normal operation of public transport”.

There are calls in social media to block various strategically important objects, including picketing of television and railway stations, central highways and other key objects during gatherings and demonstrations”, he said.

It is also notable that in various closed groups in social media, some individuals actively spread provocative callings on damaging vehicles and video surveillance cameras belonging to the Ministry of Internal Affairs to be damaged”, the official noted.

Members of the same groups organise the collection of batons, iron pipes, chains, paints, different kinds of steel objects and tools for the gathering and demonstration and call on their associates to apply the mentioned items at the rally, while carrying out violent actions against the law enforcement officers”, he added.

The official also noted the seizure of a “strategic or special object, blocking or organising the blocking of transport communications”, was punishable by up to three years of imprisonment.

The law enforcement officers had arrested 43 individuals during public protests overnight, as participants rallied against  the Government’s decision to halt the country’s European Union accession talks until 2028, while Darakhvelidze said 32 officers were injured resulting in “illegal actions” carried out by the participants of the rally, which damaged the existing infrastructure, road surface and video-surveillance cameras in the vicinity of the legislative body.