The Ministry of Internal Affairs has made comments regarding reports circulating on social media saying that a protester was injured during police detention at a recent rally on Rustaveli Avenue, dismissing the allegations as ‘false’.
As the Ministry claimed, the man seen bleeding in widely shared videos and images was not harmed by law enforcement. “A man was bitten in the leg on Rustaveli Avenue by a stray dog in the surrounding area, which caused him to bleed heavily,” the statement reads. “The person was taken to a medical facility by ambulance, his condition is stable.”
The footage sparked public outrage, with Facebook users claiming the injured man had been beaten and detained by police. Despite the ministry’s attempt to clarify the situation, skepticism persists, as the timing and location of the incidenthas raised questions about the official narrative.
The Ministry has not released surveillance footage or further support its version of events, which raises doubts over the treatment of demonstrators and the transparency of police conduct.