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Opposition party leader Nika Gvaramia detained in Georgia

The police also continue to search the offices of other opposition parties and organizations

TBILISI, December 4. /TASS/. Georgian Interior Ministry officers detained the leader of the opposition party Akhali, Nika Gvaramia, Georgia’s Mtavari Archi television reported.

Gvaramia was detained after police searched his party's office. After the search, Gvaramia started yelling at police officers, even as they repeatedly called him to order. He refused to obey them, sparking a scuffle. The police forced him into a car and took him to an undisclosed location.

The police also continue to search the offices of other opposition parties and organizations. According to Georgian news media, in one of the offices of the Droa party the police found and seized fireworks, foam rubber, eggs, laser pointers, plaids and spray guns in large quantities. Some of these items are used by protesters against police officers at rallies in front of the parliament in the capital city of Tbilisi.

Droa party leader Elene Khoshtaria conceded that the seized items belonged to her and that she had handed out fireworks to protesters to confront the police.

"I myself told them (the police - TASS) that I am the organizer and I assume responsibility for these actions," she was quoted as saying by the Interpressnews news agency.

A new wave of rallies started in Georgia on November 28. They were sparked by a statement from Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, who said the ruling Georgian Dream — Democratic Georgia party had decided to put on ice any EU accession talks until the end of 2028 and turn down any funding from the bloc. According to the official, the decision was prompted by regular EU blackmail in relation to the talks, along with calls to rescind some recent laws and sanction Georgian officials.

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