Police arrest far-right activists after tearing EU flag at Lithuanian embassy in Tbilisi

Georgian law enforcement officers arrested several far-right activists, including Guram Palavandishvili and his son, after tearing the EU and the rainbow flags at the Lithuanian embassy in Tbilisi in protest on Thursday.

Both were also arrested earlier this week for doing the same at the EU headquarters in Tbilisi,  which was followed by a critical comment of the Lithuanian ambassador.

The far-right activists claimed that the EU “were fighting against Georgian values, traditions and the Christian religion.”

The protests came on the heels of Georgia’s recent bid for EU membership. 

 Lithuanian Ambassador to Georgia Andrius Kalindra said on Monday that he was disappointed and condemned “blatant insults” towards the members of the diplomatic corps in Georgia by far-right activists at the EU headquarters in Tbilisi.

“I want to express my disappointment and condemnation for blatant insults towards my fellow members of the diplomatic corps in Georgia, who gracefully represent their respective countries in Georgia and spare no efforts to assist Georgia on its path to EU and NATO,”  the ambassador tweeted.

The opposition has accused the authorities of ignoring the crimes committed by “violent groups.”