Juglander Review
Mktvartvelo: Protesters occupy Electoral Commission
Following a demonstration in front of the State University of Ktsatskuri, a large group of students marched through the capital city. It seems that their intention was to protest in front of the National Palace, but the students were blocked by the police. During their way, the students chanted political slogans including "We do not need a charter, we need a constitution" and "Down with the Council of State". They finally ended in front of the National Electoral Commission building, the state agency which regulates both national, provincial, and local elections.
After one tense hour in which demonstrators had a heat discussion with the police as the students blocked the main road in front of the building, a group broke into the building and they made their way into some of the main offices. Police failed to intervene as another group started to block their entry to the building.
About one hundred of protesters allegedly participated in the action. A group of them went to the roof of the building, chanting slogans including "Equality! Equality! A nation for all!". Riot police was quickly sent to end the occupation, by they were met with a group of protesters throwing eggs, sticks, fruits, and other objects. The occupation of the building lasted four hours. The action was described as "a form of urban terrorism" by a prominent conservative MP.
Finally, after some negotiations, protesters decide to peacefully left the building. A group of them were arrested and other simply identified by the police. Windows, computers, furniture, and doors were reported to have considerably damage in certain areas of the building. A government spokesperson has declared that charges could be brought against both those who incited and participated in the action.
"For first time in decades", argued opposition MP Irakli Bneladze, "the state institutions were dishonoured by a bunch of criminals with pseudo-political aspirations". He blamed Prime Minister Bidzina Samkharadze's "irresponsible policies" and "unrealistic and hopeless failed reforms" for the recent protests. "The legislative fantasies of the liberal block have instigated the feeble hearts of mindless apprentices of revolutionaries who are willing to operate as the government's shock troops, even if without the government approval, to demolish the constitutional order". He demanded the government puts an end to the chaos in the streets and suggested the students union should be suspended and disbanded for breaking the law.
The main student unions, however, rejected to have being involved in the occupation of the Electoral Commission in a joint statement, in which they have insisted that they condemn any form of violence but they will continue with their protests peacefully until their demands are heard and considered by the authorities.
The protests resulted in traffic jams in the area until at least two hours after the occupation had ended. While the Electoral Commission plays an important institutional role for the supervision of elections and their financial regulations, it has a minimal activity at this time of the year, and it is not expected that the occupation will not have an impact besides the material damage caused by the protesters inside the building.