Georgian opposition is planning to hold two protest rallies against police atrocities on the eve of a parade dedicated to the Police Day which is celebrated in Georgia on Thursday for the first time.
The opposition claims that celebrating a holiday dedicated to police is unacceptable because hundreds of Georgian citizens had suffered from police atrocities and hundreds of people had been kept in prisons for political reasons.
"We are not afraid of the police regime led by [Interior Minister] Vano Merabishvili and [President] Mikheil Saakashvili. If they dare to use force once again, it will be their choice. This does not frighten me or our people," said Eka Beselia, leader of the Solidarity with political prisoners movement.
The opposition regards the upcoming police parade as a show of force prior to local elections scheduled for May 30.
One of the rallies will take place at a police headquarters building in downtown Tbilisi where up to 60 people were injured during clashes with police on May 6 last year.
A number of prominent opposition leaders, including former speaker of the parliament Nino Burdzhanadze and former prime minister Zurab Nogaideli, are expected to take part in the rallies.
TBILISI, May 6 (RIA Novosti)
