Georgian Deputy Interior Minister: Over 150 police injured in protests New mask ban proposed

Georgian Deputy Interior Minister Aleksandre Darakhvelidze revealed on December 8 that over 150 police officers have sustained injuries during recent anti-government protests in Tbilisi, with more than 30 individuals facing criminal charges nationwide since November 28. 

Speaking at a press briefing, Darakhvelidze accused government critics and certain media outlets of downplaying violence against law enforcement, echoing earlier statements by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, Caliber.Az reports.

Darakhvelidze attributed the escalation of violence to organized efforts, stating that protest participants had undergone prior training to avoid identification, including concealing their faces during demonstrations. “A simple analysis clearly shows that the instigators and perpetrators of violence acted with a sense of impunity,” he said. “This is likely directly related to the prior training and exercises undertaken by the participants of the protest.” 

Legislative proposal to ban masks at protests

In response to the unrest, the government plans to introduce legislation banning face coverings at protests and mass gatherings. Prime Minister Kobakhidze announced the initiative on Sunday, describing it as a measure to curb violence and looting, which the Deputy Minister claimed had resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages to municipal and private property.

Darakhvelidze expressed confidence in the effectiveness of the proposed law, referencing similar bans in countries such as Germany, Austria, Belgium, Spain, and Canada. “Adopting this law will significantly contribute to holding protests in a peaceful environment, eliminate the sense of impunity among violent groups, and enable the police to promptly identify and appropriately punish offenders,” he said.

Since the protests began, 372 individuals have been detained under administrative procedures, with 62 receiving administrative detention sentences and over 100 fined. Hearings for other cases remain ongoing. Law enforcement officials also detained 28 individuals on criminal charges of group violence in Tbilisi on December 7, citing incidents of resistance against officers and the use of projectiles.

The protests erupted after the government announced a suspension of negotiations on Georgia’s accession to the European Union until 2028. Prime Minister Kobakhidze attributed the decision to what he described as the European Union’s “blackmail” through grants and loans and accused the European Parliament of years of insults against Georgia.

Amid the unrest, Tbilisi City Hall has commenced the installation of a large Christmas tree near the parliament building. The structure’s base occupies much of the area where protesters had been gathering daily, prompting opposition supporters to relocate to nearby areas. Police are guarding the installation site.