“The dispersal of yesterday’s rally was neither legitimate nor proportional. Nobody attempted to raid anywhere, yet the police unlawfully employed special means,” stated Giorgi Gakharia, leader of the Gakharia for Georgia party.

According to Gakharia, the November 28 rally was peaceful.

“People were expressing their emotions and exercising their constitutional right. When the police initiate an unprovoked dispersal of the crowd without any justification, it is neither proportional nor lawful, and the police are aware of that.

I served as Minister of Internal Affairs, and there was never a case where police officers were seen wearing masks at a rally. This is a disaster.

How long can we tolerate the beating of our citizens by masked police officers who lack identification? This is equivalent to unleashing individuals into a state of nature without restrictions. While these officers may be from Special Task Force units and equipped with specialized gear, how can it be acceptable that, at a rally where civic peace, security, and human health should be safeguarded, no patrol officer can be found without a face mask? Such a situation has never been seen in this country. The presence of masked individuals indicates a culture of impunity.

I urge all honest police officers, those who have fought for our country’s sovereignty and independence and will continue to do so, to remember that these protesters are our fellow citizens, Georgians, whom we should protect.

The dispersal of a rally using masked officers and special means against peaceful demonstrators, even if they shout, throw a few bottles, or hurl insults, crosses all boundaries of law and morality,” he said.

Giorgi Gakharia announced his intention to join today’s protest to demand new elections.

“We must demand and secure a date for new elections because what these individuals are claiming today may reverberate negatively tomorrow. How long can our country’s future and our youth remain in captivity? These individuals will celebrate in the evening, patting each other on the back, claiming they are in the right, only to hold briefings with erased faces the following morning. This is absurd and must end. We are jeopardizing the future of our nation,” he concluded.