Georgia’s opposition leader Nika Gvaramia was beaten unconscious by police in the capital city of Tbilisi, his party said. The Coalition for Change party released a video showing Gvaramia being carried away by several men after he was severely beaten.
Gvaramia was representing the Droa party when police stormed their office on Wednesday and then turned on him. He was dragged into a detention car outside the office.
The incident is the latest in a series of brutal police responses to protests against Georgia’s ruling Georgian Dream party. The protests were sparked by the ruling party’s decision to suspend talks with the European Union, which had been simmering since a disputed election in October.
Georgia’s opposition parties have boycotted parliament and several politicians have taken part in six nights of protests. Human rights groups have accused police of inflicting torture on people arrested during the protests.
This incident raises concerns about the treatment of opposition figures in Georgia. Earlier this year, another prominent opposition leader was brutally beaten by special forces. Gvaramia’s alleged beating may be part of a trend of violence against opposition figures.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/12/04/europe/georgia-opposition-gvaramia-beaten-intl/index.html