Georgian police arrest opposition leaders at pro-EU protest

TBILISI, Georgia — 

Police successful Georgia arrested respective anti-government protesters connected Sunday arsenic thousands of demonstrators demanding caller parliamentary elections concisely blocked a motorway connected the borderline of the superior Tbilisi.

A Reuters newsman saw 3 protesters being arrested, including Nika Melia, a person of the country's largest absorption party, the Coalition for Change.

Interfax quality bureau reported that Melia has since been released connected bail aft detention for an administrative offense.

"At the constabulary station, I was sitting connected a seat successful handcuffs and was kicked by a constabulary officer," Interfax cited Melia arsenic telling journalists afterwards.

Reuters could not independently verify the information.

There was nary contiguous remark from the police. Georgia's Ministry Of Internal Affairs had said successful a connection earlier the protestation that the constabulary would guarantee the rally took spot "in a peaceful environment, wrong the limits established by law."

Former Tbilisi Mayor Giorgi Ugulava was besides arrested, section media reported.

Late Sunday, EU overseas argumentation main Kaja Kallas blasted the arrests.

“The brutal crackdown connected peaceful protesters, journalists and politicians contiguous successful Tbilisi is unacceptable,” Kallas wrote connected X. "Georgia falls abbreviated of immoderate anticipation from a campaigner country. The EU stands with the radical of Georgia successful their combat for state and democracy."

Georgians person been rallying nightly since November, erstwhile the ruling Georgian Dream enactment said it was suspending European Union accession talks until 2028, abruptly halting a long-standing nationalist goal.

Georgian Dream held onto powerfulness successful a disputed predetermination successful October that absorption parties accidental was rigged. The authorities says the ballot was just and free.

Protests had dwindled successful caller weeks but they resumed with greater unit connected Sunday erstwhile thousands of radical gathered extracurricular a buying analyzable connected the bluish borderline of Tbilisi and concisely blocked the roadworthy starring retired of the city.

Police beingness astatine the rally was considerable. Earlier connected Sunday, the Interior Ministry warned protesters successful a connection that blocking the motorway was a transgression offense.
One protester was seen by the broadside of the road, unconscious. Reuters was incapable to found what had happened to him.

Unverified video footage posted connected societal media showed scores of constabulary successful balaclavas beating protesters connected the streets and others carrying distant injured demonstrators into ambulances.