Two Lelo Party members detained over alleged “violent plans” in protest footage

The Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs has detained two individuals, Vepkhia Kasradze and Vasil Kadzelashvili, who appear in secretly recorded footage from a recent protest demonstration. The footage, aired by pro-government media, alleges discussions of “violent plans.”

Saba Buadze, a leader of the opposition Lelo for Georgia party, confirmed that both detainees are party members and dismissed the accusations as slander. “Our members Vepkhia Kasradze and Vaso Kadzelashvili were recently arrested based on slander broadcast on Imedi TV,” Buadze wrote on social media.

Pro-government Rustavi 2 had earlier reported on the arrests, including a statement from a woman who claimed that Kasradze, allegedly her employee, was planning a coup.