Bonfires and Barricades in Tbilisi's Streets Are Unacceptable: Gakharia on the Current Situation

“Freedom of speech in Georgia is fully protected within the law,” stated Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia while commenting on the events that took place yesterday.

According to the Prime Minister, the right to free speech is upheld in the country; however, it must be within the legal framework. He noted that on November 18, the police and government made a decision that they were entitled to make.

“In the case of such actions by irresponsible political figures, the state and the police will operate within the law and will do the same. Unfortunately or fortunately, the question directed at us is repeated: who issued the order to disperse the protest. In the past, I bore responsibility for everything that happened as the Minister of Internal Affairs; today, as Prime Minister… In the current situation, the police and government made a decision that they had the right to make, and what they did was absolutely within the law,” Gakharia stated.

It is worth recalling that on November 18, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia used special means to disperse protesters who had blocked all entrances to the parliament, obstructing the legislative body's activities.