According to the explanation given by Lamzira Khakhishvili, the mother of detained activist Mariam Mekantsishvili, her daughter was arrested by law-enforcement officers today at dawn in connection with the events of October 4.

Khakhishvili told Interpressnews that Mekantsishvili’s young child was at home at the time of the arrest.

“Yesterday we came from the region for a medical consultation. It was about 5:00 in the morning when someone knocked on the door; several police officers entered. Mariam jumped out of bed and immediately understood that they were arresting her. At that time Mariam’s 7-year-old daughter was at home and began to cry. I couldn’t understand what was happening and I started trying to calm the child. They showed us a search warrant — they said the apartment must be searched. Mariam told one of them, ‘You are very aggressive toward me; I will go willingly, just tell me why you are arresting me.’ There were several firearms in the apartment; you know she is an activist and used this item often during protests — nothing else was taken. Mariam had 600 lari at home; she explained it was money for rent and they did not touch that. The 7-year-old is not so small as to not understand what was happening — how do you explain that her mother is being arrested and taken away? We barely convinced the child that it was a game and that Mariam was being taken with her consent.

They did not read any charges to her, they confiscated the phones of all family members, and Mariam asked to be allowed to call a lawyer but they did not permit it. I even told one officer, ‘If my child were a murderer, with so many people coming here, wouldn’t you tell me what’s happening?’ Are they arresting young people for loving their homeland? I am a teacher and I always instill love of country and patriotism in children. I am against injustice and violence,” Khakhishvili said.

For the record, law-enforcement officers have arrested several activists in connection with the events of October 4.

Those detained include: Mariam Mekantsishvili, Davit Giunashvili, Simon Makharadze, Davit Gurtskaia, Giorgi Talakhadze, Gia Toloraia, Mikheil Toloraia, and Temur Kurtsikidze.