PM Garibashvili: opposition behind rallies against increase in fuel prices

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has stated that the United National Movement (UNM) opposition party, which he dubs a ‘radical opposition,’ stood behind the demonstrations in Tbilisi and regions yesterday protesting high prices for fuel.

 

Police arrested 20 individuals at the rally in Tbilisi  for blocking central roads and disobedience.

 

Garibashvili said that the individuals at the rally acted in a provocative manner and that law enforcers had to take measures to ensure order.

 

“Yesterday we saw that certain rallies were organized. It must be said directly that the United National Movement was behind them,” Garibashvili said at a weekly governmental meeting earlier today.

 

He stated that the police acted as they should have done, in accordance with the law.

 

The demonstrators were demanding the abolition of the excise tax on fuel and the transfer of VAT to a floating regime, which, according to protesters, would reduce the price of fuel by 80-90 tetri.

 

The fuel price has hit almost four GEL and more for one liter.