Georgia protests escalate: Opposition leaders detained in crackdown
The atmosphere in Georgia is becoming increasingly tense. On Wednesday, just before another demonstration scheduled for the evening, the police searched the offices of opposition parties. Several people were detained, including one of the leaders of the Coalition for Change, Nika Gvaramia.
According to the private Georgian TV channel Mtavari, police officers stormed into the offices of the Coalition for Change, one of the headquarters of the United National Movement, founded by former President Mikheil Saakashvili, as well as the offices of the Droa party. The police also searched the administrators of the Daitowe platform, run by Ilia Glonti, where participants and organisers of protest actions shared information about the rallies.
Nika Gvaramia, a journalist and one of the leaders of the Coalition for Change, was detained and brutally beaten by police officers. In footage shared by Mtavari TV, several police officers can be seen detaining him on the street, jostling him, and then carrying him by his arms and legs. At the beginning of the footage, the politician tries to break free from the police; later, he appears unconscious.
The police also reportedly detained another member of the Coalition for Change - Gela Khasaya.
Mtavari TV reported that Gvaramia was taken to jail and had already been charged with committing an "administrative offence." Fortunately, according to the TV reporters, he did not require medical assistance.
The protests have been ongoing for several days
The searches and arrests took place just before further mass protests, which are set to take place in several cities in the evening.
The protests in Georgia have been ongoing since 28 November. They started after the Georgian authorities decided to suspend negotiations regarding the country's accession to the European Union until the end of 2028.
According to human rights defenders, many protesters complain about police actions, who are brutally dispersing and beating demonstrators. Since the beginning of the protests, more than 300 people have been detained.
Source: meduza.io, mtavari.tv
