Georgia: police investigate clash in Gori

Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs has launched an investigation into a physical confrontation that took place between the activists of two political parties in Kvemo Sodisi village of Gori district in central Georgia today, Agenda.ge reports.

The Ministry said the investigation was launched for assault that has caused a physical pain of the victim but has not been followed by any heath damage. The incident took place between the activists of ruling Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia (GDDG) party and opposition United National Movement (UNM) party. As a result of the violence, UNM’s activist Albert Merebashvili was physically assaulted.

Meanwhile police said Merebashvili’s father was detained as he, reportedly, verbally assaulted members of the election commission of #45 election station. UNM said in a statement that Merebashvili was assaulted by a member of Gori’s Sakrebulo (local council) together with GDDG’s several other supporters.

Meanwhile GDDG Executive Secretary Irakli Kobakhidze said UNM supporters intentionally provoked the incident. "Merebashvili went to #45 election station and he tried to provoke our activists. He started verbally abusing them and I stress that he was the first one who engaged in a physical violence,” Kobakhidze said. "He hit one of our activists, which was followed by a clash,” Agenda.ge quoted him as saying.

Kobakhidze said that he had the information that UNM was planning such provocations in other towns as well and he asked GDDG activists to be as careful and responsible as possible. "Our task is to hold the elections in a calm and peaceful environment and I once again call on our activists to do their best to avoid such provocations,” he added.