Georgian Interior Ministry: up to 20 persons detained for attempting to block road in Tbilisi

The Georgian Interior Ministry on Wednesday reported that about 20 demonstrators were detained for attempting to unlawfully block Rustaveli Avenue in the capital city of Tbilisi.

The Ministry noted that demonstrators ignored repeated calls from law enforcement officers to refrain from illegal actions.

“Today, starting around 8:00 pm, several participants of a rally on Rustaveli Avenue attempted to unlawfully block the road. Despite repeated warnings from patrol police officers urging the protesters not to engage in illegal actions, as their numbers did not grant them the legal right to block the roadway, the rally participants ignored law enforcement’s calls. As a result, about 20 demonstrators who directly participated in attempts to unlawfully block the road were detained”, the Ministry said.

“Regarding the young woman who disobeyed the lawful demands of law enforcement, climbed onto a patrol police vehicle, and insulted representatives of the law enforcement agency, she was detained under Article 239 of the Georgian Criminal Code, which pertains to hooliganism”, the statement noted.

The Ministry reiterated its call for rally participants to avoid unlawfully blocking the roadway and committing criminal offences, warning that legal measures would be enforced against violators.

The Georgian Interior Ministry on Tuesday announced that individuals who repeatedly violate the rules governing assemblies and demonstrations would face criminal charges.