According to the Law on Police, all police officers had the right to use rubber bullets in a self-repelling mode - not a single police officer violated the law, - former Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia Giorgi Gakharia stated in response to relevant questions at the session of the temporary investigative commission of the parliament.

According to him, police officers had the full right to use rubber bullets in accordance with the Law on Police.

The chairwoman of the commission, Tea Tsulukiani, addressed the former Minister of Internal Affairs: “Mr. Giorgi, don’t portray it as if we gouged out someone’s eyes. We are asking you questions. It happened under your leadership and you should give us answers,” Tsulukiani addressed, to which Gakharia responded as follows:

“I have said in all interviews, in official testimony, that full responsibility, political responsibility for what happened that night lies with me. As for the attempt, as if I blamed the police for something - not a single policeman broke the law. All policemen, in accordance with the Law on Police, had the right to use rubber bullets in a self-repelling mode. This is the most important thing. You are trying to make me blame the policemen for something. I did not blame the policemen for anything, I have always defended them and that is why I always say that political responsibility for this event lies entirely with me. As for the order - regarding the order, I repeat once again that the order to disperse the aggressive and stormy rally was, of course, given by me. I have said this and I always repeat it. Yes, I gave it. The police officers who used these rubber bullets, in accordance with the Police Law, had the full right to use these rubber bullets. No one violated any law. There are two different dimensions - the use of rubber bullets in a repulsive mode and the use of rubber bullets in the context of dispersing the rally," Gakharia said.