TBILISI (Eurasianet)–Youth activists clashed with police in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi on the eve of a major opposition-led rally against Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili.
An April 6 demonstration by the youth movement Rat’om? (Why?) in front of the Georgian Public Broadcasting headquarters turned into a scuffle with police after the demonstrators tried to put their trademark stamp “Why?” on the company’s entranceway. The group was demanding that the television station publicize its budget details.
Police arrested four members of the group, according to Interpressnews news agency. Ra’tom has threatened to hold permanent rallies in front of the Interior Ministry if the activists are not released.
Two reporters from the newspaper Versia also suffered beatings. A group of regional media companies issued a joint statement condemning the violence.
