Police raid Georgia opposition parties’ offices as protests continue

The absorption Coalition for Change enactment says its person Nika Gvaramia is detained by police.

Police successful Georgia person raided the offices of respective absorption parties successful what appears to beryllium an effort to halt a question of protests against the governing Georgia Dream party’s determination to suspend talks connected joining the European Union.

Thousands of radical person rallied successful the capital, Tbilisi, for six consecutive nights with constabulary firing teardrop state and h2o cannon to disperse the crowds. Some protesters person thrown fireworks astatine constabulary and constructed barricades successful the metropolis centre.

On Wednesday, the absorption Coalition for Change enactment said its person Nika Gvaramia had been detained by police. The enactment published a video connected X showing Gvaramia being carried by the arms and legs by respective men down immoderate steps.

Police besides raided the offices of the Youth Organisation of the absorption United National Movement (UNM) party, 1 of the enactment leaders, Levan Khabeishvili, told journalists.

UNM successful a connection accused the Georgian authorities of launching “all-out panic and repressions against opponents”.

The Interpress quality bureau reported 2 members of different absorption party, Strong Georgia, had been detained by the police.

Police bushed and arrested the person of the Akhali wide absorption enactment and conducted a raid connected the offices of the Droa party, images broadcast connected section TV showed.

The raids came aft Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze promised to ace down connected what helium called “radical” governmental forces helium accused of organising the protests.

“It is wide to everyone that these convulsive actions are wholly coordinated by the extremist opposition. … No 1 volition flight accountability, including the politicians hiding successful their offices,” helium said.

Demonstrators clash with constabulary officers successful the Georgian superior [Irakli Gedenidze/Reuters]

Demonstrators to stitchery again

Further protests were scheduled for Wednesday evening.

Al Jazeera’s Dmitry Medvedenko speaking from Tbilisi says constabulary were stationed astatine the parliament gathering to forestall protesters from getting closer. “Agitation present is mounting adjacent the parliament,” helium said.

“It is the seventh nighttime of protests present successful Tbilisi. People that we’ve been talking to person been saying the apprehension of the absorption person [Gvaramia] is not going to deter them from coming here, nighttime aft night.”

Beforehand, pro-EU President Salome Zurabishvili accused Georgian Dream of closing “shops selling protective state masks, protective goggles and helmets, leaving peaceful protesters deprived of their simple protection”.

Early connected Wednesday, constabulary cleared demonstrators from Tbilisi’s main avenue extracurricular the parliament building, utilizing teardrop state and h2o cannon, past chased fleeing radical passim the metropolis and made arrests.

The Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs said “11 protesters, 3 journalists and 1 constabulary officer” were taken to hospitals with injuries.

“On-site aesculapian assistance was provided to dozens of individuals, including media representatives and instrumentality enforcement officers,” it added.

More than 300 protesters person been detained since the demonstrations erupted connected Thursday, and much than 100 radical person been treated for injuries.

Demonstrators impeach the authorities of betraying Georgia’s bid for EU membership, which is enshrined successful its constitution and supported by astir 80 percent of the population, according to polls.

Georgia’s nationalist ombudsman, a erstwhile absorption politician, accused the constabulary connected Tuesday of harshly mistreating radical detained during the demonstrations, behaviour that helium said amounted to torture.

Police officers successful riot cogwheel are deployed arsenic supporters of Georgia’s absorption parties clasp a rally successful Tbilisi, Georgia [Irakli Gedenidze/Reuters]