Georgian police arrest one for violence amid ongoing rallies against Govt’s EU accession suspension

The Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs on Tuesday said officers of its Central Criminal Police Department had arrested one individual on charges of “participation in group violence” during ongoing protests against the Government’s suspension of European Union accession talks until 2028.

The Ministry said the arrest had been made on charges of “organising, leading, or participating in group violence during the protests, publicly calling for violent actions, preparing an explosion, attacking the police, and damaging property”.

The body said the offender had disobeyed law enforcement officers,  throwing “various objects” toward police officers during a protest held in Rustaveli Avenue in capital Tbilisi, with the crime punishable by up to six years of imprisonment.

Nona Kurdovanidze, the Chair of the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association, on Tuesday said the organisation had received information that law enforcement officers had detained seven individuals in Tbilisi and the western city of Kutaisi, while a representative of the Ahali opposition party also reported  arrest of an individual near the Rustaveli metro station in Tbilisi as they were returning from a rally against the Government’s decision.

The Ministry on Monday reported its professionals had arrested five individuals for “group violence” in the country’s Black Sea city of Batumi amid the ongoing protests , with the investigation establishing a group of rally participants had entered Batumi University of Arts and attempted to hang a banner near the rector's office, before a university lecturer intervened, while a dean verbally insulted him.

The body added the dean and his students had physically assaulted the lecturer’s wife and a friend in the university building, with the crime punishable up to two years of imprisonment.

Tornike Mskhiladze, a cancer patient, with a hearing disability who was arrested by  police on Chavchavadze Avenue on Monday, will be released based on a written statement, the Ministry told the Georgian Public Broadcaster.

Kote Chakhunashvili, a pediatrician and a member of the Jiuti movement, has also been detained for “disobedience to lawful requests of the police” by law enforcement officers, Interpressnews agency reported on Monday, while Georgian media previously reported Chakhunashvili had been summoned for an interview regarding an unspecified criminal case but  had refused and planned to go to court for an interview.