The Ministry of Internal Affairs [MIA] issued a statement saying 43 people have been detained during the protest under administrative charges of petty hooliganism and disobeying lawful police orders.

“We would like to provide public with information on the developments on Rustaveli Avenue, near the Parliament building. As a result of illegal and violent actions carried out by the participants of the rally, 32 employees of the MIA were injured. Some of the injured persons sustained traumas in head, eye and body. 13 of them required surgical intervention. At this stage, 1 law enforcement officer remains in the medical facility.

The employees of different units of the MIA were mobilized on Rustaveli Avenue after the manifestation started and protected the public order.

In the course of the manifestation, some of the participants were involved in provocative actions. The MIA called several times on the organizers of the gathering and the aggressive groups to express their protest within the frames defined by the law, however, they ignored instructions of the policemen, verbally insulting them and getting involved in physical altercations.

During the live broadcasts of various media sources, it was clearly seen how participants of the protest were damaging the infrastructure, road surface, video-surveillance cameras.

Throughout the night, rally participants set fire to various objects on Rustaveli Avenue, erected barricades, damaged property of Tbilisi Municipality and private individuals, threw glass bottles, stones, iron objects and pyrotechnics at the police.

In order to prevent the aforementioned violent actions, the Ministry of Internal Affairs repeatedly applied special means under by law during the night. Prior to the use of special means, participants of the rally were warned on the spot.

During the manifestation, law enforcement officers arrested 43 persons in accordance with Articles 166 and 173 of the Code of Administrative Offenses for offering resistance to the legal request of the police officer and petty hooliganism.

In connection with the violations that occurred at the rally, the investigation is being conducted under Article 353 and Article 187 of the Criminal Code of Georgia”, - reads the statement.