Searches in opposition offices in Tbilisi, leader of political party detained

The offices belonging to at least several Georgian opposition parties have been searched and two people have been detained.

As reported by Ekho Kavkaza (Echo of the Caucasus), the searches are taking place in the offices of Mikheil Saakashvili's United National Movement and the Coalition for Change, headed by Nika Gvaramia, as well as those belonging to Girchi-More Freedom and Droa parties.

Gvaramia was detained near the Droa office, along with his fellow party member Gela Hasay.

Protests have been raging in Georgia for almost a week after the prime minister's statement that Tbilisi would pause the issue of opening EU accession talks until 2029. On the evening of 3 December, security forces again began to crack down on protesters.

The Baltic states announced sanctions against Georgian officials involved in the crackdown, particularly against the de facto leader of the Georgian Dream ruling party, oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili.