Police arrest 8 individuals on charges of attempting to block international highway
Photo: Ministry of Internal Affairs
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia on Tuesday announced the arrest of eight individuals accused of attempting to block a strategic or particularly significant site as part of a protest on Sunday in the capital city of Tbilisi.
The protest took place on Agmashenebeli Avenue, which is part of the Tbilisi-Senaki-Leselidze highway, an internationally classified road.
The detainees face up to four years in prison if convicted.
The Ministry noted that despite multiple warnings, the arrested individuals had allegedly attempted to block the road, leading to their detention.
“As the public is aware, on the afternoon of February 2, protesters began gathering and later moved toward the outskirts of Tbilisi. Officers from various units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs were present at the gathering sites to ensure public safety and order, maintaining constant communication with the protest organisers and participants. Despite multiple warnings issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and repeated instructions from law enforcement officers on the scene to refrain from blocking the international highway, some protest participants refused to comply with lawful police orders. Shortly after the demonstration began, they entered the roadway and attempted to block traffic”, the Interior Ministry said.
The detainees have been accused of the attempted group obstruction of a strategic or specially significant site.
“The investigation into other individuals involved in the highway blockage is ongoing to identify and hold them accountable”, the statement said.
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