Briefing of the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Aleksandre Darakhvelidze
We would like to once again provide information to the public on the recent developments on Rustaveli Avenue and in the vicinity of the Parliament.
As the public has clearly witnessed, the protest has repeatedly exceeded the norms defined by the law on assembly and manifestation and turned into violent actions.
Let's follow chronologicalloy the actions of the protesters and the response of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs are mobilized during all gatherings and demonstrations and protect public order on the ground.
After the protest started, the police forces were deployed in the vicinity of Chitadze street and the back entrance of the Parliament, so that the participants of the meeting-manifestation had the opportunity to express their protest freely in a peaceful environment.
Nevertheless, some of the rally participants moved near the back entrance of the Parliament and began provocative actions, which was manifested through verbal and physical confrontation against the police. Herewith, the participants of the rally threw stones, glass bottles, pyrotechnics, various iron objects, eggs, paints to the direction of the policemen at the back entrance of the Parliament and on Chitadze Street, while verbally insulting them. As a result of the violent actions carried out by the rally participants, several policemen received various, including severe injuries.
In order to de-escalate the situation and protect lives and health of law enforcement officers, the Ministry of Internal Affairs made a decision to replace the patrol and criminal police representatives with employees of the Special Tasks Department with special equipment, although violent actions against law enforcement officers continued for hours.
Through the live broadcasts, everyone clearly saw that a part of the rally participants moved to the gate of the parliament building on Chichinadze Street and started damaging in group, the supposed goal of which was to break into the legislative body venue.
Despite numerous appeals made by the law enforcement officers to the participants of the rally, as well as the official statements made by the Ministry of Internal Affairs to stop violent actions and express protest peacefully, the rally participants continued to act against the law. We would like to emphasize that the destructive actions of rally participants jeopardized the health and lives of both, the rally participants and the employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The actions of demonstrators repeatedly exceeded the norms defined by the law on assembly-manifestation and turned into violent actions. Therefore, the police cleared the streets surrounding the parliament building from violent groups in accordance with the law.
Despite the above mentioned, members of the violent group were stationed on Rustaveli Avenue, in front of Tbilisi Marriott Hotel, and continued to act aggressively and violent towards the police, which was manifested in throwing various objects and pyrotechnics.
In addition, violent groups artificially blocked Rustaveli Avenue with benches, outdoor garbage cans, the so-called "scooters" and the inventory belonging to cafes and bars located in the surrounding area and setting fire afterwards.
They also damaged the private and municipal infrastructure located in the surrounding area, set fire to garbage cans and wooden benches.
The public could clearly see that the violent groups were constantly collecting massive stones and various construction materials to attack the police. Consequently, police made a decision and ensured the restoration of public order on Rustaveli Avenue, clearing up the area from the artificially arranged barricades. 107 persons were arrested by the police during the mentioned process.
For two consecutive days, 42 employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs were severely injured as a result of the violent actions of the rally participants. They were transferred to medical facilities with various injuries from the manifestation venue, including burns and bone fractures.
We once again would like to warn and call on the participants of the rally to express protest within the limits defined by law, otherwise, the Ministry of Internal Affairs will take all measures within its mandate prescribed by law in order to de-escalate the situation.
