32223466 U.S. urged to investigate deaths in Tbilisi
The U.S. State Department called on Georgian authorities to investigate deaths during protests in Tbilisi. On Friday, May 27, at the briefing said the official representative of the American Foreign Ministry, Mark Toner. "We know about the ongoing protests – said Toner, answering the question of whether the U.S. State Department for the events in Georgia and if he knew the victims. – We believe that Georgia, as in any other country, should be respected to the right of citizens to peaceful expression of their aspirations. " United States, he added Toner, called the Georgian authorities "to investigate the incidents over the past few days, which killed several people." On Friday evening it became known that in Tbilisi on the roof of a building located near Rustaveli Avenue, which hosted the opposition rally, found the bodies of two killed, Interfax reported, citing the Georgian Interior Ministry. According to preliminary data, the cause of death was contact with electrical wires. Consequence, the Interior Ministry said in a statement, check the possible connection of these individuals with the protest action, which was held on Rustaveli Avenue. In Tbilisi from 21 to 25 May were protests organized by the opposition. Demonstration, where participants demanded the resignation of President Mikheil Saakashvili, held first at the building of public television, and then at the parliament building. At rallies attended by several thousand people. The term of the application filed by organizers at mayor's office shall expire on the night of May 26, but the opposition said they would not leave the Rustaveli Avenue and, thus, will not allow "for a military parade in honor of Independence Day of Georgia. After midnight rally on Rustaveli Avenue was disbanded special forces who have used water cannons, tear gas and rubber bullets. In the dispersal of the rally, killing two people – the police and former police officer who participated in the protest action. According to the Georgian Interior Ministry, were both hit by a car of the motorcade of opposition leaders, hastily withdrew the protest. Representatives of the opposition to this version of events strongly disagree. About 90 people took part in the protest were detained during the crackdown on protests. Later, most of them were sentenced to two months in detention.
