By Kenneth F. Hunt
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

TBILISI, Georgia – Eight leaders of Georgia’s opposition parties were arrested, reprimanded, and released from custody on Friday, according to Georgian media outlets.

The political secretary of the People’s Party, Aleksandr Shalamberidze, was one of the arrestees. He was “verbally reprimanded” for violating a public order not to enter a building.

Seven other opposition political leaders associated with the National Council were released and fined for violating the public order and scuffling with police. The National Council is an umbrella organization that united the three main opposition parties in Georgia, namely the Conservative Party, the Movement for Fair Georgia, and the People’s Party.

The opposition leaders were attempting to enter the Tbilisian Publishing House offices, in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi. They were taken into custody for trespassing in violation of the public order banning National Council representatives from entering the building. Allegedly, they scuffled with police as they attempted to enter and obtain printed election materials.

The Publishing House offices were closed by Georgian police just last week in anticipation of the May 30 local elections. National Council claims that local and national Georgian politicians are applying pressure on the Publishing House to support incumbent candidates, as the Publishing House is responsible for printing election campaign materials.

Zurab Nogaideli, the leader of Movement for Fair Georgia, characterized the incident as another episode of “terrorism” against legal opposition activities. But Mr. Nogaideli also noted that “no one will be able to frighten us”, vowing to “destroy these authorities.”

Before Mr. Shalamberidze and his colleagues were released, Koba Davitashvili, chairman of the People’s Party, threatened that opposition activists would protest by blocking Rustaveli Ave in central Tbilisi. But Mr. Shalamberidze and his colleagues were released just hours later, although all were reprimanded for violating the public order.

Nonetheless, National Council has consistently protested official targeting of publishing houses by Georgian political leaders. They have vowed to continue to do so until the May 30 elections.

For more information, please see:

CIVIL GEORGIA – Opposition Activists Released after being Fined – 8 April 2010

GEORGIAN TIMES – Opposition Activists Released after being Fined – 8 April 2010

RADIO FREE EUROPE – Georgian Police Briefly Arrest Opposition Leader – 8 April 2010