Twelve men, detained after protesters threw various objects at UNM senior figures in the town of Zugdidi on July 20, were released after local court fined them with GEL 100 each.

Police detained twelve persons after the incident in Zugdidi where UNM leaders and activists were gathered for a conference as part of the primaries through which the party is selecting its candidate for the October 27 presidential election. All twelve were charged with “petty hooliganism”.

UNM said that the protesters outside the venue of the conference, were mobilized by pro-GD local officials with an attempt to thwart the campaign event. GD coalition distanced itself from the rally, which was protesting against arrival of UNM leaders in Zugdidi, and condemned the violence.

UNM plans its fifth regional convention in series of conferences in frames of its primaries on July 21 in Batumi. The final, sixth conference will be held in Tbilisi on July 27.