Regarding the arrest of protest participants, Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze stated in response to a journalist’s question about the ongoing detentions and methods used during the October 4 protest at the President’s Residence:
“The police will take appropriate measures against those who have committed a crime; of course, the agency acts within the law. Did anyone break the law? No. Accordingly, the detentions are ongoing. As for the form of arrest — they won’t be arresting anyone with flowers, will they? There is a suspect, a perpetrator, and they are being arrested in the usual manner.”
Kaladze noted that many people were directly involved in attempting to storm the residence.
“The head of the agency made a statement that people are being identified, because there were quite a lot of individuals directly involved in the storming of the President’s residence.
Despite our calls in the preceding days urging people not to take illegal actions, there was still direct encouragement of these violent acts — discussions of overthrowing the government, a kind of campaign was underway — and then on October 4, they tried to carry it out, approached the President’s residence, damaged the fence, and attempted to break in. If it weren’t for the proper units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs acting within the law, no one knows what would have happened.
Adults are free in their actions and decisions, you cannot restrict anyone, but when you break the law, we live in a civilized state, and every violation has consequences.
As for the form of arrest — they won’t be arresting anyone with flowers. There is a suspect, a perpetrator, and they are being arrested in the usual manner. Every perpetrator will be held accountable.”*
Regarding state attention to those injured during the protests, the mayor added that the Ministry of Health has done everything necessary and is still ready to provide care on-site or, if needed, transfer patients abroad.
Kakha Kaladze on the arrest of protest participants: The police will take appropriate measures against those who committed a crime. As for the form of arrest, well, they won’t be arresting anyone with flowers, will they?
