Police report over 100 detainees in Tbilisi

68 people detained for administrative offenses have been released, and two persons have been detained in criminal cases, the Georgian police reports today.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that from July 1 to 5, the LGBT community held the LGBT Week in Tbilisi, which was planned to end with the “March of Dignity” in the city centre. On July 5, LGBT opponents blocked Rustaveli Avenue. Their protest action turned into an attack on journalists, and as a result, 53 journalists were injured. On the evening of July 6, Tbilisi hosted an action in support of victims of violence which took place on July 5, and a contraction action of LGBT opponents was held nearby.

On July 6, the Georgian police detained more than 100 people for administrative violations committed during the contraction action. Of them, 68 have been released after signing recognizance not to leave and 32 others are being kept at an IVS (temporary detention facility). Besides, two persons have been detained in criminal cases, including one for attacking a camera man of the “Palitra News” holding, and the other – for damaging a patrol police car.

Irakli Managadze, the editor-in-chief of the Georgian news agency “ExpressNews”, expressed his dissatisfaction with the work of the police during the actions held on July 5 and 6. “I believe we needed enough special forces fighters to control the protest action on July 6 and to provide a safe passage for journalists covering the protest actions in front of parliament. If one would ask me to evaluate the work of the police on July 5 and 6, I would say it was very, very poor. I think it was political will of the government to make the police work so poorly,” Irakli Managadze told the “Caucasian Knot” correspondent.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on July 7, 2021 at 12:40 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.