Protesters against UNM primaries detained in Georgia
By Nazrin Gadimova
Three participants of protests against holding the election primaries at President Mikheil Saakashvili's United National Movement (UNM) were detained near the ExpoGeorgia exhibition center in Tbilisi on July 27, where the sixth final round of primaries was held.
The detainees -- Irakli Chubabria, a representative of Free Georgia, former political prisoner Pridon Merebashvili, and Davit Chantladze -- are still kept in detention.
The protest was organized by Kakha Kukava's Free Georgia opposition party with the participation of various NGOs.
Participants of the protest cried out swear words in address of the UNM members and their supporters and protested against the actions of the police patrol, which launched a cordon and guarded UNM members.
Davit Bakradze, former speaker of the parliament and leader of the parliamentary minority, who confidently won all his competitors in the primaries, said violent methods will not bring benefit to anyone.
"I understand that many people have a reason for displeasure and people have a right to express their opinion, but we must understand that the expression of displeasure by violent means will never be effective," Bakradze said.
Earlier, President Mikheil Saakashvili's United National Movement accused the ruling Georgian Dream coalition of organizing riots in connection with the incident, which occurred during the internal party elections of the UNM in Zugdidi, Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region of Georgia, on July 20.
The activists of Georgian Dream reportedly threw stones and water bottles at the UNM members who arrived in the city in connection with the primaries, which are being conducted to determine the presidential candidate at the upcoming elections. As a result of the incident 12 people were detained on charges of disorderly conduct.
The 2013 presidential election in Georgia is scheduled for October. This will be the 6th presidential election after the country's declaration of independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. The last one, held on January 5, 2008, resulted in the election of Mikheil Saakashvili for his second and final presidential term. According to the constitution, Saakashvili cannot run for a third consecutive term.
Georgia's Central Election Commission has already registered 25 candidates for presidency.