Police mobilized to “ensure public order” at Appeal Court amid opposition protest, Patrol Police chief

Police forces have been mobilized outside the Tbilisi Court of Appeal to “maintain public order” as opposition figures hold a demonstration, Head of the Patrol Police, Vazha Siradze, said on Tuesday.

He explained that the deployment of officers was intended to ensure the free movement of citizens and a peaceful environment for ongoing court proceedings over election results.

Speaking on the mobilization efforts, Siradze noted, “an action has been announced near the Court of Appeal, so the police have been mobilized to ensure public order. Regarding the number of police, we make decisions internally, and deployment is adjusted as needed.”

He emphasized the importance of safeguarding court processes from potential disruptions, assuring that police presence aimed to keep the peace without escalation. “There is a court building, proceedings are underway, and if the situation does not escalate, the police will be there to ensure that the court proceedings take place peacefully,” Siradze added.

The demonstration, led by opposition politicians, coincides with the Court of Appeal’s review of complaints regarding the annulment of electoral results in several polling stations within Tsalka and Tetritskaro municipalities in eastern Georgia.