We would like to provide the public with information on the facts of organizing, leading or participating in group violence on Rustaveli Avenue during the protests, publicly calling for violent actions, as well as preparing an explosion, attacking the police and damaging property, crimes envisioned under articles 225 239 (1) 187, 353 (1) and 18-229 (1) of the Criminal Code of Georgia.
The employees of the Central Criminal Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, as a result of operational measures and investigative actions, arrested 2 more people on charges of participating in group violence.
The detainees are: I.K. (DoB 1995), and the citizen of a foreign country S.K. (DoB 1997).
The investigation established that during the protests on Rustaveli avenue, the defendants carried out violent actions as a group, resisted and disobeyed the legal demands of the law enforcement officers, and threw various objects in their direction.
Within the frames of the ongoing investigation at the moment 28 people are arrested by the employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Herewith, we would like to inform public on the events that took place during the protest held in Tbilisi last night and the illegal actions taken by the participants of the protest.
Employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, as during all gatherings and demonstrations, were mobilized in parallel with the gathering held on Rustaveli Avenue in order to protect public order and the safety of citizens.
The participants of the protest had the opportunity to express their protest in a peaceful environment, like the previous two days, and continue the protest.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs issued a corresponding appeal to the participants of the rally, that the gathering should be a peaceful manifestation and to remain in frames established by the law.
However, despite the above mentioned, the actions of some of the people at the protest took a violent manner.
The members of the rally threw pyrotechnics at the parliament building and to the direction of the law enforcement officers standing in front perimeter of the legislative body.
Later, on Chichinadze Street, pyrotechnics attached to a tree were fired aiming at the policemen who were there to ensure the rule of law.
Herewith, police officers were verbally abused, stones and various heavy objects were thrown in their direction.
As a result of the use of pyrotechnics fired by the participants of the rally, one employee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs was injured.
The participants of the rally, despite the numerous calls of the law enforcement officers to express their protest in a peaceful manner, continued to act against the law, due to which the Ministry of Internal Affairs took the measures granted by the law, including using special means allowed by the law.
Prior to the use of special means, participants of the meeting were warned on the spot.
Later on, the participants of the rally moved from Rustaveli Avenue in the direction of Heroes Square, where they blocked the traffic movement, they engaged into a conflict with the car passengers, who turned out to be bodyguards of one of the individuals under protection.
During the rally, 48 persons were detained by the law enforcement officers for disobedience to the legal request of the police officer and petty hooliganism in accordance with Articles 166 and 173 of the Code of Administrative Offenses.
