Georgian Police Detain Opposition Activists On Weapons Charges

Georgian Police Detain Opposition Activists On Weapons Charges

March 23, 2009

TBILISI, March 23, 2009 (RFE/RL) -- Georgian police detained several opposition activists around the country last night, with many of them charged with illegal possession of weapons.

Zurab Bigava, a leader of the Democratic Movement-United Georgia party, told RFE/RL's Russian Service that a total of 12 party activists were detained.

Seven people were arrested in Tbilisi and at least one in Batumi, while the others were arrested in other parts of Georgia. Bigvava said that the leader of the opposition party's branch in Ajara was among those detained.

Interior Ministry spokesman Shota Utiashvili showed hidden camera footage of at least six different encounters of people he claimed are opposition activists buying automatic weapons, RFE/RL's Georgian Service reports. The video was later shown on Georgian television.

The opposition party's leader, former parliament speaker Nino Burjanadze, said the detentions and accusations are politically motivated and everyone is at risk, adding, "don't be surprised...if today or tomorrow somebody will find drugs in my pocket or, if not nuclear, then at least chemical weapons in my apartment."

She said that President Mikheil Saakashvili's government has begun a repressive campaign against the opposition as it plans mass protests against his government on April 9.

Burjanadze warned that "the winds that they are now stirring up will produce a hurricane [reaction from the public]." She said if Saakashvili continues with such actions "he will by all means be brought to justice."

Merabishvili said "I don't intend to go anywhere and I'm just waiting to see when they will arrest me."

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/Opposition_Members_Detained_In_Georgia_On_Weapons_Charges/1515350.html

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Georgian Police Detain Opposition Activists On Weapons Charges