Georgian Interior Ministry: 107 protesters detained at Tbilisi demonstrations

The Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) announced that 107 individuals were detained in Tbilisi during protests on November 29-30 under Articles 166 and 173 of the Administrative Offenses Code.

These charges pertain to petty hooliganism and disobedience to police orders.

The protests, held near the Georgian Parliament on Rustaveli Avenue, escalated into clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement. According to the MIA, protesters threw rocks, glass bottles, fireworks, and other objects at police, injuring 10 officers. One officer remains hospitalized with burn injuries.

Authorities claimed demonstrators engaged in unlawful activities, including vandalizing public and private infrastructure, setting fires, erecting barricades, and damaging surveillance equipment and municipal property. The police responded with crowd control measures, including water cannons and other approved tactics.
The MIA emphasized that their actions aimed to restore public order after repeated warnings were ignored. The demonstrations follow public outrage over the government’s announcement to postpone EU accession talks until 2028. Protesters accuse the government of undermining Georgia’s European aspirations.

The ministry’s actions and the heavy-handed police response have drawn criticism from civil society groups and international observers. Protests continue to spread across the country.