Opposition member released after detention in Tbilisi

Opposition member Irakli Nadiradze was released early on Thursday after being detained in Tbilisi’s Gldani district the previous day.

Nadiradze, member of the United National Movement (UNM), told the press “they detained me without any explanation and eventually let me out.

We expect a trial, and they may either jail us for two weeks or impose a fine, as is typical of Georgian Dream [ruling party]”.

Nadiradze’s arrest occurred after fellow UNM member Irakli Edzgveradze was detained near his home. The Ministry of Internal Affairs explained that Edzgveradze had interfered with an ongoing police investigation into drug-related crimes. His lawyer plans to address the situation in a press conference.