The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia announced on Froiday it had arrested 43 individuals during a rally on Rustaveli Avenue in central Tbilisi for disobeying police orders and petty hooliganism, protesting the Governmnet’s move on Thursday to halt the country’s EU accession talks until 2028.
The Ministry claimed 32 law enforcement officers were injured in the clashes, with 13 requiring surgery for severe injuries. One officer remains hospitalized. The Ministry claimed that rally participants engaged in illegal and violent actions, including damaging public and private property, erecting barricades, and throwing projectiles such as stones, bottles, and pyrotechnics at police officers.
Authorities stated that law enforcement units were mobilized to maintain public order and repeatedly warned demonstrators to protest within the bounds of the law. The Ministry said special measures were used to prevent further escalation after participants refused to comply with instructions.
