Prior to this, the Ministry of Internal Affairs issued a statement presenting an ultimatum to the protesters who had blocked one of the central avenues of the Georgian capital since November 17. The police demanded the removal of the tent city within 15 minutes. Following this, the dispersal began.
"Echo of the Caucasus" publishes photos and videos of the events.
Protesters were pushed back to Melikishvili Avenue, where police later began detaining activists. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, referenced by Interpressnews, the police are currently holding 16 individuals in administrative custody.
In a statement from the office of the ombudsman of Georgia, it is noted that when the Ministry of Internal Affairs began detaining participants on Melikishvili, the demonstration was peaceful and in line with the norms of freedom of assembly, as reported by Sova.
A few hours after the tents were cleared, protesters remained in groups on Melikishvili surrounded by police, according to "Echo of the Caucasus".
One of the leaders of the opposition coalition "Unity," Giorgi Vashadze, announced a shift to a tactic of "mobile protests." Former Tbilisi mayor Gigi Ugulava stated that the police act like "a vicious pack of predators on the hunt," targeting one victim, cornering them, and then attacking all together. He assessed that the actions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs have only led to an "increased protest charge" at this point.