20:38, 13 December 2024

Protest dispersals in Tbilisi strengthen protesters' motivation

A protest action in Tbilisi. Photo by Aziz Karimov for the "Caucasian Knot"

The brutal dispersals of protests held near the Georgian Parliament is increasing the number of protesters; the number of them ranging from several thousand to tens of thousands, Georgian analysts have stated. Local NGOs have united to help those who suffered from law enforcers' actions.

Since November 28, when protests began, over 400 protesters have been detained. For several days in a row, in Tbilisi, unknown masked individuals continue attacking people. In particular, a group of about 50 people have beaten up several members of the "Akhali" Party, and journalists were also attacked. On December 10, for the 13th day in a row, protests were held in Georgia demanding European integration, new parliamentary elections, and the release of detainees.

Alexander Baramidze, a Former Deputy Minister of Justice, has reported that the number of protesters reaches tens of thousands. "The violence applied at protests angers people; and even more protesters are coming out," he has explained.

About a dozen leading non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have united into a coalition to provide legal support and represent all those who suffered during protest dispersals in court. Among them there are the Association of Georgian Young Lawyers, the Centre for Social Justice and the Georgia's Rights, said Giorgi Selimashvili. According to his story, the NGOs are trying to identify those who attacked people.

Meanwhile, protesters are being pressed by law enforcers, who forcibly bring them in for questioning in the absence of advocates; and there are threats of firing them.

Policemen are visiting protesters' homes and force them, against their will, to the Criminal Police Department.

Kakha Gogolashvili, an analyst at the Georgian Fund for Strategic and International Studies, has explained that these authorities' actions are aimed at intimidating the society and reducing the protest wave.

"These are the methods that are used in Russia; and everything that is done in Russia is adopted here," he has concluded.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on December 11, 2024 at 00:02 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Author: Inna Kukudjanova

Source: CK correspondent