Police in Georgia's capital break up a tent camp set up by protesters demanding a new election
Police in Georgia’s capital have moved in to break up a tent camp that demonstrators set up on a central thoroughfare to protest the results of last month’s parliamentary election and demand a new vote
TBILISI, Georgia (AP) — Police in Georgia's capital early on Tuesday moved in to break up a tent camp that demonstrators set up on a central thoroughfare to protest the results of last month's parliamentary election and demand a new vote.
The Oct. 26 election kept the governing Georgian Dream party in power, but opponents say the vote was rigged. Many Georgians viewed the election as a referendum on the country’s effort to join the European Union. Several large protests have been held since then.
Protesters had set up the tent camp in Tbilisi, the capital, and had vowed to stay around the clock to demand new parliamentary elections. As police moved to disperse it, there were scuffles and several protesters were detained, according to an Associated Press reporter at the scene. Some of the demonstrators were displaying European Union flags.
“We, the citizens, are gathered here to protest against rigged elections. We have the right to freedom of assembly, the right to gather, and the right to protest the terrible processes that took place on Oct. 26 and beyond," protester Gigi Chikhladze told the AP after the camp was dispersed.
