On December 31, in front of the Georgian Parliament, the Democracy Research Institute monitors observed a rally organized by opposition political parties and civic movements Dare, Shame and Change.[1] 

Results of observation

The Democracy Research Institute monitors estimated that, during the observation, up to 40 people participated in the demonstration. About 100 policemen and staff of the Municipal Department for Security were mobilized in front of the parliament.

The demonstration was preceded by dismantling Malkhaz Machalikashvili’s and civic activists’s tents in the premises of the Parliament and removal of demonstrators' personal belongings and journalists’ equipment by using the City Hall Cleaning Service’s cars.

Organizers

To protest dismantling protest tents by the authorities, activists of civic movements Dare, Shame and Change, organized demonstration ,,rally in solidarity with injustice fighters, the country has nothing to celebrate.’’ Leaders of the opposition political parties and their supporters joined the rally.

Purpose of the Rally

The rally aimed to protest the dismantlement of tents, one of which was owned by Malkhaz Machalikashvili. He has been demanding for two years the investigation of his son’s case, who was killed during the special operation. City Hall cleaning officials also took the tents of civic activists.

Demonstrators at the rally stated, that the Christmas market and children's entertainment area could also have been arranged in an alternative locations, furthermore, it was especially unclear why the arrangement was necessary by the use of force.

Obstacles created for demonstrators

The rally was mostly peaceful, but at dawn, before the rally started, the police arrested nine civic activists.

Police and the City Hall security officials fenced off the area in front of parliament. Inflatable trampoline and other attractions were set up. Even though officialy tents were removed to construct Christmas market stalls and kid-friendly attractions, the location was inaccessible to citizens throughout the day.

Use of force by police

At dawn on December 31, law enforcement officials arrested 9 protesters, including activists of the Dare and Shame civic movements for non-compliance with the lawful order or demand of the law enforcement officer and minor hooliganism of the Administrative Offences Code. The demonstrators were protesting the removal of tents by the police and the City Hall cleaning services.  

The Democracy Research Institute monitors will observe the trials of those detained for administrative offenses.

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The monitoring was made possible with the financial support of the Open Society Georgia Foundation within the framework of the project Rallies Under Observation.

[1] 31 December, from 16 to 19:00 PM