The Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that 13 individuals have been arrested for disobeying police orders and committing petty hooliganism. The ministry urges the organizers and participants of the rally to comply with the lawful instructions of the law enforcement officers.

“With the purpose of expressing protest over the third reading of the draft law “On transparency of foreign influence” in the parliament, on May 14 of the current year, at 09:00, participants of the manifestation started to assemble in the area adjacent to the building of the legislative body.

In parallel with the manifestation, in order to protect public order, the representatives of different departments of the Ministry of Internal Affairs were deployed on the ground to ensure the safety of each citizen.

In order to ensure the free movement of parliament members, the Ministry of Internal Affairs made a decision to clear the entrances to the Parliament. In parallel, the rally participants on Rustaveli Avenue and B. Chichinadze Street had the opportunity to express their protest in a peaceful environment.

After the end of the voting held in Parliament, the participants of the rally started to damage the iron protective barriers installed at the entrance of the legislative body located on Rustaveli Avenue on purpose and as a result, managed to break into the territory of the Parliament. They also made various inscriptions on the walls of the parliament building with paint.

Therefore, the protest of the demonstrators gathered in front of the legislative body completely exceeded the limits defined by the law on assembly and demonstration and took on a violent character.

Despite multiple calls made by the police and numerous cautionary statements published by the Ministry of Internal Affairs to hold the rally in a peacefully, the participants of the rally ignored the legal calls and verbally confronted the law enforcement officers, throwing various blunt objects and paints in the direction of police.

It is also notable that various iron constructions were placed by demonstrators on the road.

In order to prevent an unauthorized breaking into the parliament building and to restore public order, the law enforcers administered proportional force and special means defined by law.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs arrested 13 people in accordance with Articles 166 and 173 of the Code of Administrative Offenses for disobedience to the legal requests of the police and petty hooliganism.

At the moment, the protective iron barriers damaged by demonstrators were restored, and the participants of the rally have the opportunity to express their protest on the territory adjacent to the Parliament in accordance with the law.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs once again calls on the organizers and participants of the rally to observe the legal requests of the law enforcement officers.

The Ministry will study all the illegal facts that occurred during the rally, and each violation will be followed by a strict legal response,” the MIA stated.