The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia has announced the arrest of five opposition figures accused of calling for a coup d’état and the overthrow of the Government.
According to the Մinistry, those detained are Paata Burchuladze, Murtaz Zodelava, Irakli Nadiradze, Paata Manjgaladze, and Lasha Beridze.
The Interior Ministry’s statement notes that they could face up to nine years in prison.
The opposition rally in Tbilisi began on Saturday evening, on the day of the local government elections held across Georgia, including the mayoral election in Tbilisi.
Twelve parties, with more than 7,000 candidates in total, took part in the election campaign.
Eight opposition parties boycotted the vote.
Initially, protesters gathered at Freedom Square, after which part of the crowd marched toward the residence of President Mikheil Kavelashvili.
Law enforcement officers used water cannons and tear gas against participants who broke into the president’s residence grounds.
