The Ministry of Internal Affairs is releasing information about the events that took place during the protest rally held in Tbilisi last night.

According to the agency, the actions of some of the people at the protest rally took on a violent character. According to the MIA, pyrotechnics previously attached to a tree were aimed at police officers on Chichinadze Street to ensure law and order.

According to the agency, during the rally, 48 people were detained by law enforcement officers for disobeying the lawful request of a police officer and for petty hooliganism under Articles 166 and 173 of the Code of Administrative Offenses.

“We would like to inform the public about the ongoing investigation under Articles 225, 239, 187, 353 and 18-229 of the Criminal Code into the facts of organizing, leading or participating in group violence during the protests on Rustaveli Avenue, as well as publicly calling for violent action, as well as preparing an explosion, attacking the police and damaging property.

As a result of the conducted operational measures and investigative actions, officers of the Central Criminal Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs have detained 2 more persons on charges of participating in group violence.

The arrested are: I.K., born in 1995, and S.K., a foreign citizen, born in 1997.

The investigation revealed that the defendants committed violent acts in groups during the protests on Rustaveli Avenue, resisted and disobeyed the lawful demands of law enforcement officers, and threw various objects at them.

The employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs have so far detained 28 people as part of the investigation.

We would also like to provide the public with information about the events that took place during the protest rally held in Tbilisi last night and the illegal actions taken by the rally participants.

The employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, as during all gatherings and demonstrations, were mobilized to protect public order and the safety of citizens during the rally held on Rustaveli Avenue.

The protest participants had the opportunity to peacefully express their protest and continue the rally, as they had done on the previous two days.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs also issued a corresponding appeal to the participants of the demonstration to ensure that the gathering and demonstration were peaceful and did not exceed the limits established by law.

However, despite the above, the actions of some of the people at the protest took on a violent character. The members of the demonstration threw pyrotechnics at the parliament building and law enforcement officers standing on its perimeter.

Later, on Chichinadze Street, pyrotechnics previously attached to a tree were aimed at the police officers who were maintaining order. They also verbally abused the police officers, threw stones and various heavy objects in their direction.

As a result of the use of pyrotechnics thrown by the participants of the demonstration, one employee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs was injured. Despite repeated calls by law enforcement officers to protest peacefully, the protesters continued their unlawful actions, during which the Ministry of Internal Affairs took measures provided for by law, including the use of special means permitted by law.

Before using special means, the participants of the gathering were given a preliminary warning on the spot.

Later, the protesters moved from Rustaveli Avenue towards Heroes' Square, during which time the movement of vehicles on the road was restricted, and they entered into conflict with the passengers of the vehicle, who were the personal bodyguards of one of the persons to be protected.

"During the protest, 48 people were detained by law enforcement officers for disobeying the lawful request of a police officer and for petty hooliganism in accordance with Articles 166 and 173 of the Code of Administrative Offenses," the information released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs says.