Demonstrators Are Forbidden To Travel From Regions

Irakli Managadze

Today, movement was restricted from various regions of Georgia in the direction of Tbilisi. Mini-buses could not leave Zugdidi, Gurjaani and Khashuri.

Nana Toloraia, head of Zugdidi district HQ of the Movement for the United Georgia, reported to the Human Rights Center that mini-buses were not allowed to travel to Tbilisi since the morning of April 9. Passenger trains were not allowed to leave for Tbilisi either. Toloraia reported that several sick people visited their office during the day and requested assistance in traveling to Tbilisi.

Toloraia said: “Several sick women came to our office who needed urgent medical treatment in Tbilisi but could not travel there because of the blocked roads.”

Drivers of mini-buses got in touch with the Human Rights Center from the Khashuri and Gomi villages in the Kaspi district, Shida Kartli region and reported that patrol police do not allow them to travel to Tbilisi. According to the drivers they wanted to do their daily itinerary since it is their work.

People called the Center from the village of Chalaubani in the Gurjaani district and reported that mini-buses are not allowed to travel. Since 10:00 am on April 9 officers from the Criminal Police Department were patrolling in the area of the Gurjaani auto-station and did not allow mini-buses and coaches to travel to Tbilisi.

The patrol police are stopping almost every car at the patrol station in the village of Chalaubani, Gurjaani district, and in the village of Akura in the Telavi district. They do not allow the drivers to continue on their way to Tbilisi.

At 10:00 am policemen from the criminal department stopped a mini-bus traveling from Gurjaani to Tbilisi and ordered the passengers to get off. If the passengers resisted them the policemen threatened the passengers with physical assault regardless of whether or not the mini-bus was going to the capital.