Georgian Parliament Speaker: law applies equally to everyone, roadblocking without necessity violation

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Monday commented on the detention of protesters outside the Georgian Parliament building, including journalist Vakho Sanaia, emphasising that the law cannot be discriminatory and does not differentiate between professions.

In his remarks, Papuashvili noted that the number of police officers present at the scene was determined by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, based on the need to maintain public order.

"When the Finnish minister was standing on Rustaveli Avenue, that same Finnish Government detained 50 people for blocking the street. We agree that blocking the street, when there is no necessity for it, is a violation of the law. If the road was blocked in a situation where people could have gathered on the [sidewalk], then that is a violation. We agree on that as well. As far as I know, this is precisely the complaint against Vakho Sanaia - that he blocked the road. The law states that the road should not be blocked if people can gather in areas adjacent to the roadway. If it’s not necessary, it should not be blocked”, Papuashvili said.

“Whether it’s a doctor, a lawyer, a journalist, or anyone else it doesn't matter to the law. The law cannot be discriminatory and cannot make exceptions like, let’s forgive this person because they’re a journalist, but not forgive this one because they’re an engineer”, he concluded.