Participants in a march in Tbilisi spoke out against violence.
A march under the slogan "Together against violence and oppression" is taking place in Tbilisi on the 549th day of daily protests. Participants called the beating of two Gori residents by security forces a sign of a systemic crisis in the police force.
As reported by "Caucasian Knot," a mass picket calling for the release of all prisoners of conscience took place in Tbilisi on May 29, the 548th day of continuous pro-European protests. Activists came to parliament with posters against police violence.
The prosecutor's office detained six police officers in connection with the violence against two Gori residents, including Papuna Lotsulashvili. Lotsulashvili himself is free, but a case of violence against police officers has been opened against him. A protest rally against police violence took place in Gori following the beating of two local residents. Family members of prisoners of conscience and politicians participated in the rally.
The traditional Saturday march from the Philharmonic Hall to the Georgian Parliament is dedicated to the violence committed by police against two citizens in Gori. According to the marchers, the incident in Gori points to the existence of systemic crime. The march's slogan is "Together against violence and oppression," InterPressNews reports.
"Georgian Dream" encourages police violence—we are dealing with systemic crime," TV Pirveli quotes marchers as saying.
Clergy also joined the rally.
According to a video published by photographer Mo Se, the participants are carrying flags of Georgia, the European Union, and the United States. They walk along the roadway, many holding posters.
Participants in the "Saturday March" march came to the government administration building to support the parents of children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. For the 41st night in a row, a protest demanding the import of medicine for their children has been held near the government administration, Publika reports.
Two of the detainees admitted their guilt and expressed remorse. Among them is police officer Vladimir Goderdzishvili, who is in hospital. The defense claims that one of the victims inflicted the injury on him.
The lawyer for 19-year-old patrol police officer Saba Tsavelidze insists that the young man did not participate in the beating. The lawyer emphasized his client's young age, lack of criminal record, and lack of previous violent incidents. Prosecutor Mikheil Beriashvili stated that the investigation has direct evidence against all six, including video recordings. He also noted that the identities of some of the police officers involved in the beating have not yet been established, and called on the accused to cooperate more actively with the investigation, Novosti Georgia reported.
Protesters in Georgia have been demanding new parliamentary elections and the release of political prisoners since November 28, 2024. Security forces violently dispersed the protests, using tear gas and water cannons, and detained protesters. Thousands of people were subjected to administrative prosecution during the protests. The "Caucasian Knot" has prepared a report "The Main Thing About the Persecution of Protest Participants in Georgia".
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