Co-rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
for monitoring Georgia Castriot Islam and Michael Yensen believe that
the crackdown of protesters in Tbilisi on Thursday night was
legitimate but with disproportional use of force, RIA Novosti reports.
The People's Assembly protesters were driven out of the Rustaveli
Avenue on Thursday night using tear gas, water throwers, rubber
bullets and clubs. The permission for protests expired at midnight,
the crackdown started at 00.10. Some people were hospitalized. Dozens
were detained. The police said that two people died, both were hit by
the car convoy of opposition leaders which was leaving the area at
great speed.
The CE said that the crackdown was legitimate because the avenue was
to be used for the military parade for the Independence Day. The
protesters refused to move to a different place offered by the Tbilisi
Mayor's Office.
The PACE urged sides to be calm and avoid further tensions.
