Georgian police use water cannon to scatter protesters
Riot police in Georgia have used water cannon to disperse anti-government protesters and reportedly arrested several activists in the capital, Tbilisi.
Clashes broke out on Tuesday after thousands rallied in the capital and demanded the government’s resignation as well as snap parliamentary elections.
The protesters were planning to block entrances to Georgia's parliament building to prevent lawmakers from holding a session, with hundreds of police officers already deployed to the scene.
Reuters cited Giorgi Vashadze, an opposition leaders, as saying that several people, including one opposition politician, had been taken into custody by police.
Georgian police also used water cannon last Monday to scatter protesters outside parliament, arresting 37 people. Those detained were convicted in trials that the opposition said were politically motivated.
Protests in the former Soviet country began more than two weeks ago after lawmakers voted down legislation to hold next year’s elections under a new proportional voting system.
The change was scheduled for 2024 but the opposition is demanding it be brought forward, saying the rules favor the ruling Georgian Dream Party, which has been in power since 2012.
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