The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia published a special statement about a rally planned on March 21st.

"In connection with the protest rally scheduled on March 21, Ministry of Internal Affairs calls on citizens not to violate public order and act in accord of the law. Law enforcers will make quick response on each violation ensuring that offenders will bear strict punishment in accordance of the law.

Georgian government respects and protects basic human right and freedoms, including right to assembly and manifestation. Ministry of Internal Affairs is mobilized to ensure order and safety during the protest rally scheduled on March 21 of the current year.

Georgian legislation specifically stipulates rules for gathering and manifestation.

According to the law, Participants of an assemblage or manifestation are prohibited:

To call for subversion or forced change of the constitutional order of Georgia, infringement of independence or violation of the territorial integrity of the country, also to make appeals which constitute propaganda of war and violence and trigger a national, ethnical, religious or social confrontation;

To block the movement of public transport artificially, unless it"s necessary considering the number of manifestation participants;

To block the roads by means of various constructions, vehicles and objects;

To hinder the work of public transport deliberately;

To block building entrances, highways and railway tracks;

To have arms, explosives, inflammables, radioactive substances or cold steel;

To have objects that might be applied against manifestation participants or against others with the purpose of endangering their lives or inflicting health injury;

To have tear gas, paralyzing and poisonous substances;

To have alcoholic beverages with them;

Organizers of manifestation or assembly are obliged to:

Follow the rules stipulated by the law and undertaken responsibilities;

Address manifestation participants and make adequate reaction in case of violation of terms stipulated by the law;

Not to infringe the right of mass media representative, with relevant identification sign, to conduct their professional duties;

Rights and responsibilities of the law enforcement agencies:

In the line of duty police officers are obliged to ensure the safety of individuals participating in rallies, manifestations or mass gatherings;

Representatives of the law enforcement agencies shall not infringe the right to conduct professional activity of a journalist with the identification sign;

In case if organizer fails to address manifestation or assemblage participants and is not able to make adequate measures to eradicate the violation in a reasonable period of time, law enforcement agencies are authorized to exercise measures stipulated by the Georgian legislation and international law in order to restore and / or re-open the traffic movement."- is stated in the official announcement published by the Ministry.