Categories
Journalistic Survey
Articles
Reportage
Analitic
Photo Reportage
Exclusive
Interview
Foreign Media about Georgia
Editorial
Position
Reader's opinion
Blog
Themes
Children's Rights
Women's Rights
Justice
Refugees/IDPs
Minorities
Media
Army
Health
Corruption
Elections
Education
Penitentiary
Religion
Others

Clash in front of the Police Main Department

May 8, 2009

Nona Salaghaia

Rally of the opposition parties in front of the Tbilisi Main Police Department in Dighomi, Tbilisi, ended with the clash between the demonstrators and policemen. The rally moved to Dighomi after Gia Gachechiladze, “Utsnobi” (a singer) made statement in Rustaveli Avenue and called upon the people to demand the release of three detainees who were arrested for having physically assaulted journalist of the Public Broadcasting; according to the spread information the detainees were beaten and threatened with raping. Gia Gachechiladze claimed they would do their best to release the detainees.

The situation got extremely tense near the Police Department when Gia Gachechiladze climbed over the fence and got into the yard of the department.

Police physically assaulted the opposition leaders and their supporters. While supposedly establishing the public order the law enforcers seriously injured several leaders and opposition supporters: Gia Maisashvili, Davit Gamkrelidze, Shalva Ogbaidze, Levan Gachechiladze and Gia Gachechiladze, as well as a correspondent of the Public Broadcasting- Salome Kokiashvili, a camera-man of the TV Company “Kavkasia”-Zaza Shukvani, a cameraman of the Rustavi 2-Levan Kalandia; Nino Komakhidze-journalist of the newspaper “Versia” and Ana Khavtasi – photo-reporter. These people were injured by things that are prohibited by law such as blunt instrument, stones and plastic bullets.

As for Utsnobi, he was taken to Tbilisi Ghudushauri Hospital like other victimized people.

Manana Nachkebia from the political party “New Rights” stated: “The society got anxious about the arbitrary detention of the three people who had assaulted the journalists. The detainees were beaten and threatened with seven-year-imprisonment instead administrative charge which envisages fine or short-term imprisonment.”

Opposition parties demand investigation of the incident in front of the Police Department and to punish the people who shot demonstrators with plastic bullets. Manana Nachkebia stated that one of the demonstrators, Chantaldze, has lost his eye as a result of the incident.


News