Near-Maidan situation in Georgia: police disperse protesters, resulting in several arrests (photos and videos available).
Protests in Georgia are ongoing, and on November 19, the police began to disperse people from Tbilisi State University and dismantle the tent city.
This is reported by Radio Liberty Echo of the Caucasus. It is noted that law enforcement urged the protesters to reopen the road, which had been blocked for two days.
Special forces joined the operation to clear the tent city in Tbilisi. After a few hours, the police cleared the road of tents, and municipal workers began to clean the area.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia later stated that the protesters had been given ample time to express their opinions. Therefore, the police made considerable efforts to free the streets.
"For the past two days, a gathering has been taking place on Chavchavadze Avenue and the adjacent area of Varazisxev, where the roadway is completely occupied, and various structures have been erected. The freedom of expression does not include blocking roads and disrupting the usual rhythm of life for citizens," the statement reads.
1 2 3 The Ministry of Internal Affairs also emphasized that water cannons and special forces deployed to the protest site were not used.
At the same time, opposition leaders in Georgia claim they will continue their protests despite the dispersal. Reports on social media also indicate that several protesters were detained in Tbilisi, and one person was injured and taken away on an ambulance.
4 5 It is worth noting that the protests in Georgia began after the announcement of the parliamentary election results, as the opposition accuses the Central Election Commission of falsification. Supporters of the pro-Western opposition blocked the area near Tbilisi State University for over a day. Tents, toilets, and even washbasins were set up for the participants.
During the dispersal, there were about 200-300 people present. The police completely occupied Melikishvili Avenue in central Tbilisi, pushing the protesters off the roadway.
Earlier, "Telegraph" reported that during the announcement of the election results in Georgia, the head of the Central Election Commission was splashed with paint.