Police unleash tear gas & rubber bullets on parking ticket protesters in Georgia (VIDEO)
Police have unleashed tear gas on crowds that took to the streets of the Black Sea resort city of Batumi in Georgia to protest a parking fine. Over 30 people have been arrested and more than 20 injured in clashes between demonstrators and police.
The rally in Batumi, a city of over 120,000 residents, began on Saturday night when protesters gathered near the main police station.
#Georgia interior minister goes to Batumi to take charge after 21 injured in riot, still sporadic unrest car burning https://t.co/zlP9737DIqpic.twitter.com/hF2Vbb1d6U
— DFWatch (@DFWatch) March 12, 2017
The protest was called after local police arrested six people over an argument about a parking fine that started when a man received a ticket, which he refused to accept, and argued with the police, supported by his father and four other locals. All six were detained for “refusing to comply with lawful demands of police,” RIA reports citing local media.
The subsequent protest turned violent when the demonstrators attempted to enter the police building demanding the release of the six detainees, after which special police units deployed tear gas and rubber bullets against them.
Several police and protesters injured in riot in Batumi: https://t.co/Ra7VahazXi via @YouTube
— DFWatch (@DFWatch) March 11, 2017
The city’s mayor, Giorgi Ermakov, told local TV that the protesters overturned and burned cars and damaged traffic lights and trash cans. They finally dispersed on Sunday morning.
This is how the main entrance of #Batumi police station looks like now. Sad to see the City 'destroyed' in a blink of an eye #BatumiRiotspic.twitter.com/cRLV72iqFL
— Luka Pertaia (@lookiane) March 12, 2017
About 40 people were arrested following the clashes, Georgian Interior Minister Giorgi Mghebrishvili said. At least 33 people, including 15 police officers, were injured, according to Zaal Mikeladze, the health minister for the autonomous Adjara region, in which Batumi is located.
Georgia’s Interior Ministry said later that all the six people who were detained over the parking fine have been released. However, an administrative investigation into the incident is ongoing. “These people will stand before the court,” Mghebrishvili said.
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili blamed “destructive political forces” for the violence in Batumi.
“Unfortunately, these forces do not hesitate to try to shake the foundation of the stability; they commit violence against representatives of state institutions,” Kvirikashvili said.
Kvirikashvili added that everyone responsible for the protest will be punished.