Four Men Arrested in Connection to May 17 Violence

Four men have been arrested for petty hooliganism and disobeying police during the May 17 violence in downtown Tbilisi when an attempted anti-homophobia rally was disrupted by a violent crowd, the Interior Ministry said shortly after midnight on Tuesday.

The charges fall under the code of administrative offenses and carry either fine or imprisonment for up to ninety days.

“Investigation into the May 17 incident continues,” the Interior Ministry said. “Several legal proceedings have been initiated under the criminal code.”

Georgia’s justice system differentiates between criminal offenses, which are felonies, and administrative offenses, which are misdemeanors.

Deputy chief prosecutor, Shota Rekhviashvili, said on May 20 that there was a huge volume of material, including video footage, that needed to be studied by investigators.

“I assure you that you will see concrete individuals being held responsible for actions they have committed,” he said.

Civil Georgia