The Ministry of Internal Affairs issues a statement regarding the ongoing protest rally on the Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi.

“The employees of various structural units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs are mobilized in the vicinity of the Georgian Parliament and government administration buildings to ensure the public order.

Despite multiple calls of police officers on the spot, as well as the official statement published by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, to vacate the exits of the legislative body for the MP’s and employees of the parliamentary staff, the participants of demonstration ignored the rightful requests of the law enforcement officers.

In order to restore public order, the Ministry of Internal Affairs administered special means in accordance of the acting legislation.

Rally participants confronted the law enforcement officers verbally and physically, and threw various objects in their direction.

Once again, we call upon political leaders, organizers and participants of the rally not to exceed the limits defined by the law on freedom of assembly and expression.

Each violation will be followed by an appropriate legal response”, - reads the statement.