Eight arrested as Georgian authorities crack down on protesters

Eight people were detained on Sunday for attempting to block a road near Tbilisi Mall, one of the key exits from the Georgian capital, the Georgian Interior Ministry said on Tuesday.

In its statement, the Ministry cited violations of the recently introduced regulations regarding strategic sites.

The detainees were identified as Irakli Tsignadze, Irakli Tabatadze, Nikoloz Kutubidze, Vasil Eliava, Nikoloz Kumsishvili, Aleksandre Gogoladze, Dimitri Bidzinashvili, and Gigi Ugulava. According to the MIA, they defied repeated warnings from law enforcement before attempting to obstruct traffic on Agmashenebeli Alley, a major thoroughfare.

Under Article 19-222 of the Criminal Code, those arrested could face up to four years in prison.

The arrests came on the 67th consecutive day of pro-European demonstrations in Georgia, with protesters demanding fresh elections and the release of individuals previously detained during the movement. On the same day, police detained an additional 31 people under administrative procedures, citing disobedience to lawful orders.