The Internal Affairs Ministry has deployed a large number of employees near the parliament to detain participants of the protest against the Russian Law. Among those arrested are Davit Katsarava, the founder of the anti-occupation movement, and Lazare Grigoriadis, who was recently released from prison.
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Davit Katsarava was standing a few meters away from the special forces cordon, allegedly making a statement, when several riot police rushed toward him and arrested him. A bystander, who witnessed the incident, was sprayed in the face with pepper spray.
TV presenter Nanuka Zhorzholiani stated that she witnessed the arrest of Lazare Grigoriadis, saying, "They saw that Lazare was the most harmless, the calmest - everyone was harmless, but someone shouted - they came out, grabbed Lazare's hand, and dragged him away. They knew exactly who they had to catch and bring inside."
His mother also confirmed the arrest of Lazare Grigoriadis.
The Internal Affairs Ministry has not yet released information on how many people are detained and on what basis.
After the third reading of the Russian Law, the Internal Affairs Ministry began to disperse the ongoing peaceful protest in front of the Parliament. Water cannons were deployed on Rustaveli Avenue.
Based on the statement from the Internal Affairs Ministry, the rally exceeded the norms established by the assembly and demonstration law and "took on a violent character," citing as an example the damage to the iron fence near the Parliament building.
"In order to restore public order, the Internal Affairs Ministry used special means provided for by law," the Internal Affairs Ministry stated, urging rally participants to "comply with the legal instructions of the police, not to artificially escalate the situation, otherwise law enforcement officers will use special means established by law."
