Opposition rally in Georgia demands release of detained protesters

Opposition representatives and their supporters organised a rally in Tbilisi, Georgia and had one demand on December 7.

The rally was organised from the first building of Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University to the parliament building on Rustaveli Avenue, located a few kilometres away, Caliber.Az reports per Russian media.

The rally participants had one demand: the release of 28 individuals detained during the unrest at previous protests, as well as others who were arrested administratively.

They planned to join the main protest outside the legislative body. Riot control equipment was deployed at Freedom Square, near the Georgian Parliament building in Tbilisi, where an anti-government demonstration was held.

Water cannons, sound weapons were prepared and the Interior Ministry's special forces were mobilised at the square and were on full alert, despite the situation at the parliament building remained calm. 

The protest near the parliament lasted for several hours. Protests in Georgia began following the ruling Georgian Dream party's decision to postpone negotiations for EU membership until 2028. The demonstrations, which have lasted for seven days, continue in Tbilisi and other cities across the country.

In the Georgian capital, clashes between protesters and police have occurred every night in recent days. On the previous day, police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowds, while protesters retaliated with fireworks and other forms of pyrotechnics.

By Naila Huseynova