Police began breaking up the rally at 2:00 a.m. local time on Friday (10:00 p.m. GMT Thursday), using batons, tear gas and water cannons after protesters barricaded themselves in some streets of Tbilisi.
The protest continued until 06:00 local time, but new demonstrations are expected later on Friday.
Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs said the protesters repeatedly resorted to provocations, damaging infrastructure and “seriously injuring” 32 police officers.
The exact number of protesters injured is unknown, but a member of the opposition group Coalition for Change said one member, Nana Malashkhia, had his nose broken.
“During the crackdown, we hid in a pharmacy, but special forces broke in after us. If it weren’t for the presence of the media, they could beat us to death,” Giorgii Butikashvili told the BBC.
Videos on social networks also show a brutal police beating of a journalist from the opposition TV channel “Formula”.
Other members of the media with clearly marked press badges were also targeted.
