As a result of violent and aggressive actions, 143 employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs received various types of severe injuries. Such a statement made today the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Aleksandre Darakhvelidze.

“As is known to the public, protest rally is held today on Rustaveli Avenue, in the vicinity of the legislative body. As in the course of all gatherings, police forces are mobilized at the gathering site today and to maintain public order. For days, the public has been closely monitoring the violent and illegal actions taken by some of the rally participants.

The police have been constantly calling on the rally participants to express their protest peacefully and not to go beyond the norms established by the law on assembly and manifestation, however, several violent groups of the rally have already been identified at today’s ongoing rally, which are carrying out illegal actions.

We have already seen through live broadcasts the aggressive actions of violent groups as soon as the rally began, which was manifested in the damage to the protective barriers located in front of the Parliament. Aggressive protesters threw stones, blunt, iron and ignited objects in the courtyard of the Parliament building, where police forces were stationed.

It is as a result of these violent and aggressive actions that 143 employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs received [MIA] various types of severe injuries.

The MIA has launched an investigation. As a result of various investigative and operational measures, at this stage, 5 persons have been detained in accordance with the Criminal Code of Georgia. The following individuals are detained on charges of assaulting police officers and damaging a property:

1. D.L., (DoB 1972) - On December 1 of the current year, during a demonstration on Rustaveli Avenue, the accused person threw the so-called Molotov cocktail at the employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, as a result of which a water cannon vehicle belonging to the Ministry was damaged.

2. T.Z., (DoB 1987) - on December 1 of the current year, during a demonstration on Rustaveli Avenue, threw the so-called Molotov cocktail at law enforcement officers and damaged a water cannon vehicle belonging to the Ministry.

3. G.M., (DoB 2003), with multiple previous convictions, has been arrested on charges of assaulting police officers while performing official duties and damaging property by setting fire. He threw an ignited object into the building of the legislative body, which resulted in a fire in one of the rooms of the parliament building.

4. M.G., (DoB 2007), has been arrested for causing various injuries to an employee of the MIA on April 9 Street as a result of throwing pyrotechnics.

5. A.M., (DoB 1997), who has been convicted in the past of theft, attempted theft, and illegal purchase and storage of narcotics and is currently on probation, has also been arrested. The accused person, who is a member of one of the political parties, set fire to the electrical wires and power supply of the video surveillance cameras of Public Safety Command Center 112, installed on a pole in front of the Parliament building, on November 29 of the current year, during a rally on Rustaveli Avenue, thus damaging and disabling the device.

The investigation under Articles 187 and 353 (1) of the Criminal Code of Georgia continues and all relevant operational and investigative actions are in progress to identify and detain the perpetrators of violent acts.

We would like to emphasize that the MIA will take immediate and strict actions against the illegal actions of the perpetrators of the crime.

At this stage, 293 persons have been administratively detained. Administrative case materials for 108 persons have already been submitted to Tbilisi City Court, out of which the proceedings have been completed against 89 individuals.

Out of the 89 completed cases:

- A fine was applied to 43 persons
- Administrative detention was applied to 41 persons, serving their detention in various temporary detention centers.
- 5 people were released with a warning.

Once again, we call on the participants and organizers of the demonstration to express their protest within the norms established by law. I would like to emphasize once again that each illegal action will be followed by an appropriate legal response from the police”, - said Aleksandre Darakhvelidze.