UPDATE: Former GD State Minister Detained at Rally againt “Russian Law” Released
Alexi (Buka) Petriashvili, former State Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration in 2012-2014 in the ruling Georgian Dream government detained by police during the protest rally against the Foreign Agents law on April 28, was released on April 29. The Tbilisi City Court postponed his trial for May 1.
On April 29 MIA has confirmed to news outlet Publika that he was detained on administrative charges, under the Art. 166 (petty hooliganism) and Art. 173 (resisting the police). Aleksi Petriashvili is currently a Senior Fellow at the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies (Rondeli Foundation).
The rally against the Foreign Agents Law, which the ruling Georgian Dream is expected to pass in the second reading this week, continues in front of the Georgian Parliament. The rally began at 19:00 in Republic Square, with protesters later marching down Rustaveli Avenue to the Parliament building. Police has used pepper spray against the protesters. Some of the protesters demanded access to the stage installed by the Georgian Dream for its April 29 rally in support of the bill, which led to some scuffles. Several more people reportedly have been detained, which is not yet confirmed by the Interior Ministry.
NOTE: This news was updated on April 29 at 18:00 to include information about Petriashvili’s release.
This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)
