10 arrested during rally dispersal sent to detention
37 individuals were detained during the November 18 rally in central Tbilisi. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
Tweet 
Share
Ten demonstrators detained during the November 18 rally dispersal in central Tbilisi have been sent to five-13 days in prison for ‘hooliganism and disobedience to police.’
The trials of 12 of a total of 37 detained demonstrators and opposition activists were held yesterday.
The demonstrators who have been sent to prison are:
- Beka Basilaia – 13 days.
- Elguja Bagrationi – 12 days.
- Luka Chichinadze – 5 days.
- Giorgi Bunturi – 5 days.
- Zuka Berdzenishvili – 7 days.
- Irakli Nadiradze – 13 days.
- Giga Maqarashvili – 12 days.
- Dimitri Bidzinashvili – 13 days.
- Irakli Kacharava – 4 days.
- David Mzhavanadze – 4 days.
The remaining two, Guram Mchedlishvili has to pay 1,000 GEL fine and Paata Shushanashvili has been given a verbal warning.
The trial of the remaining 25 demonstrators will take place in the coming hours.
Demonstrators who have been protesting the rejection of the election bill since November 14 have gathered in front of the administration building of the government of Georgia in central Tbilisi earlier today, demanding snap parliamentary elections with the use of a fully proportional electoral system, conducted by an interim government.Protests in Tbilisi were sparked after the ruling Georgian Dream party proposed election bill last week was scrapped.
The leader of the European Georgia opposition party David Bakradze has announced a “large-scale” rally on Monday, November 25 in front of parliament, adding that demonstrators will ‘peacefully block the entrances’ of the legislative body on November 26.He stated that the opposition “is not happy” about blocking the parliament activities. However, “the current state leadership has left no other way."
All 37 individuals who were detained during the November 18 rally dispersal in front of the parliament building of Georgia for hooliganism and disobedience to police have been temporarily released by a Tbilisi City Court judge late yesterday.Discussions around the cases are scheduled to resume later today at the same court.
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia has responded to the rally dispersal on Monday and stated that police acted in full line with the law “as irresponsible politicians” made demonstrators violate the law and hamper the work of the legislative body.Gakharia stated that the freedom of expression and assembly is “fully protected in the country” and the government uses force only when demonstrators violate the law.
Georgian Justice Minister Tea Tsulukiani says that Georgia needs a mixed electoral system, “with MPs elected through the majoritarian race and based on party lists, including a reasonable election threshold.”
Police have detained yet another member of the Shecvale (change) youth movement, Tite Gedenidze, in front of the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party office earlier today.
In a statement released in response to local NGOs accusing the judge Valeriane Pilishvili of partiality, Tbilisi City Court said recent hearings have been held under deliberate discreditation from the detainees and their supporters, disinformation campaign and sharp criticism.