A total of 350 demonstrators have been detained for various offenses, – Deputy Interior Minister Vladimer Bortsvadze said on Friday.

According to Deputy Interior Minister, the protest of the participants gathered in front of the Parliament went beyond the freedom of expression and peaceful assembly prescribed by the law and turned into violence.

“The protest of the participants gathered in front of the Parliament went beyond the freedom of expression and peaceful assembly prescribed by the law and has turned into violence.

Despite the requests of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, attempts to storm the Parliament building, resistance to the Police, acts of violence, as well as disobedience of lawful demands by the protesters, continued.

Accordingly, in order to prevent breaking into the Parliament premises, injuring of citizens and police, as well as physical confrontation, Police used special means of proportional force in compliance with the law.

During the rally, the demonstrators, as well as the law enforcement officers, received various injuries. Police equipment has been destroyed.

A total of 350 demonstrators have been detained for various offenses. The Ministry of Internal Affairs has launched an investigation under Article 225 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, involving organization, management or participation in group violence.

Moreover, the Interior Ministry will give an adequate assessment to the attempts of staging mass unrest and breaking into the Parliament building and react to each fact of violation and crime,” –  Vladimer Bortsvadze said.