On 4 October, an anti-government demonstration was organized on the day of the Tbilisi local elections, during which attempts were made to storm the presidential palace.
The declared intent of the October 4 action was a "peaceful revolution". Opponents of the authorities saw it as a continuation of the wave of protests which began after the controversial parliamentary elections in the autumn of 2024 and after the Georgian government of Dream refused to proceed negotiations on EU membership.
The evenings filled the Freedom Square and later, at the call of the organizers, any demonstrators moved towards the presidential palace on Atoneli Street, where there was a riot. peculiar troops responded to protesters from the Orbelian Palace utilizing teardrop gas and water cannons. On close streets, demonstrators built barricades with the equipment of bars and restaurants, from where fireworks and stones were thrown towards the police.
The Ministry of wellness reported 21 MMA officers and 6 hospitalized demonstrators with various injuries. Subsequently, the MMA announced that all 5 members of the protest organizing committee would be detained. The detainees are:
- Iraq Nadiradze – a associate of the United National Movement, associate of the Tbilisi City Office of the 3 term;
- Murtaz Zodelawa, associate of the political council of the United National Movement, erstwhile Georgia lawyer General;
- Ms Lasza Beriga – erstwhile Deputy Head of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Georgia;
- Paata Manjgalaga – Secretary-General of the Agmashenebeli strategy Party;
- Paata Burczuladze – founder of the social platform of Rustawel Avenue, a well-known opera singer.
The detainees are being forced to “call for the overthrow of power” and to “organise collective violence”. These crimes are punishable by 9 years imprisonment. The MMA announced that any protest action in the coming days would be treated as a continuation of night events — attempts to storm the presidential palaceand appropriate measures will be taken against the guilty.
Former Georgia president Salome Zurabishvili called the effort to storm the Orbelian Palace a provocation. “What is happening now is pure provocation. I don't really know whose script it is. This is an effort to break what is actually against the government present – a peaceful protest," Zurabishvili said.
The Georgian Prime Minister, Iraq Kobachiga, estimated that 5 to 7 000 people participated in the protests in Tbilisi. The Prime Minister felt that many politicians and organizations had distanced themselves from protestive force only due to the fact that "the effort to overthrow power had failed".
"Among them were Salome Zurabishvili, organization leaders, circumstantial activists, etc. But of course no 1 can avoid responsibility. This besides includes political responsibility," said Kobachida. According to him, the situation of direct participants in acts of force is more hard due to the fact that they have committed criminal offences. “These people can anticipate surprises in a fewer days, and it will not take long. present we have much more opportunities to establish an identity than a fewer months ago," added the Prime Minister.
Kobachiga blamed the peculiar services for attempting to organize an unsuccessful coup:
"It came on October 5 and the effort to overthrow failed. We all stay in Georgia – from Bidzin Ivanishvili to all typical of Georgian Dream... Anyone who tried to rise his hand on our country during an action organised by abroad peculiar forces will receive a sharp answer. Georgia is not a country where individual could let abroad services to overthrow power," the Prime Minister said.
Despite warnings on the evening of 5 October, demonstrators one more time gathered in front of the Parliament building stressing that it is crucial to proceed the protest.
Source: newsgeorgia.ge
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