Riot police in Georgia‘s capital have used water cannon to disperse protesters near the country’s Parliament after thousands of people rallied demanding electoral system reform.
The interior ministry said in a statement that 28 people were arrested overnight on Tuesday for police disobedience and hooliganism. At least three people were injured during clashes, the statement said.
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The police intervention forced demonstrators, who were standing at four locations in front of entrances to the Parliament, to disperse, although dozens gathered in one place in front of the building in Tbilisi.
Protests have been pushing for a switch to fully proportional representation in an electoral system [Irakli Gedenidze/Reuters]
Protesters were planning to block entrances to Parliament in order to not allow legislators attend a session on Tuesday – but officials had warned that this would not be allowed.
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Georgia protesters attempt to shut down state buildings (02:27) |
“If protesters violate the law, the state will act adequately,” Mamuka Mdinaradze, a ruling party legislator, told reporters a few hours before police scattered the protesters.
Protests in the country of 3.7 million people have been taking place for two weeks to push for a switch to fully proportional representation in an electoral system that currently also includes single-seat constituencies.
The change was scheduled for 2024, but the opposition is demanding it be brought forward, saying the rules benefit the Georgian Dream party, in power since 2012.
Almost half of current legislators were elected not by party lists but in single-mandate constituencies, most representing the ruling party.
Police also used water cannon on Monday last week to scatter protesters outside Parliament, arresting 37 people.
Detainees have been sentenced to terms ranging from four to 13 days in trials which the opposition called politically motivated.
SOURCE:
Al Jazeera and news agencies
