Minister Released, IDPs Keep Protesting

Minister for Refugees and Accommodation Eter Astemirova, who was taken hostage by internally displaced persons from Abkhazia in Zugdidi, was released as a result of involvement of the riot police.

Eter Astemirova arrived in Zugdidi today to meet the internally displaced persons, which have been rallying demanding from the authorities to repay debt on allowances.

The IDPs seized the administrative building in Zugdidi and took the Minister in hostage.

Two riot policemen and several protesters were injured, while the riot police was trying to release Minster for Refugees and Accommodation.

Displaced persons keep protesting in outside the administrative building in Zugdidi, claiming that the local authorities misappropriated IDPs? allowances.