Police has arrested supporters of Levan Kokoshvili during the demonstration

Lado Bichashvili, Shida Kartli

On July 21, in Gori a confrontation between police officers and supporters of Ramaz Kokoshvili started after judge Levan Darbaidze did not satisfy solicitation of defense regarding changing preventing punishment from arrest to bail. 

Gori Regional Court judge Levan Darbaidze’s decision immediately met noise in the courtroom. Ramaz Kokoshvili was imprisoned and after 50 days of hunger-strike he felt bad and it was needed to call an ambulance in the court. 

Guards have dismissed supporters of Kokoshvili outside of the courtroom, after what the demonstration in peaceful manner has been revealed in the yard of the court. Parallel to the demonstration, police was mobilizing in the yard. Up to 100 policemen started to arrest participants of demonstration during the night, what was the reason of confrontation between demonstrators and police. 

Firstly the police arrested brother of Ramaz Kokoshvili Levan Kokoshvili, and later 3 more participants. On July 22, in the morning, one more demonstrator, Rati Sabanadze, was arrested in his home. 

According to the information of press center of  the Ministry of Internal Affairs, 4 participants of demonstration were arrested according to the articles 187, 366, 239 and 353 of Criminal Code and 5th one was accused under article 166 of the Administrative Code. 

Police officers arrested Ramaz Kokoshvili on June 2. He was accused of disobedience to police and beating deputy Head of Gori Police. Lawyer of Kokoshvili does not agree with the accusation and claims that drunken police officers physically abused his client and he is illegally arrested. Ramaz Kokoshvili has been on hunger-strike since his arrest.