2016-08-04 Political movement Socialist Georgia was planning to hold a founding convention at 12:00 on August 4, in the event hall of Niko Sulkhanishvili Music School in Telavi. The convention had 30-35 participants. To protest the convention, New Political Union Girchi had organized a rally outside the music school, with participation of local population. The rally, led by Girchi’s majoritarian candidate in Telavi, Toresa Mosi (Vakhtang Mosiashvili), aimed to prevent the leaders of Socialist Georgia from going through with the convention, and to express protest against their pro-Russian policy. The rally was joined by a local leader of civic platform New Georgia, Tamar Lamazoshvili together with her supporters and UNM candidate in Telavi, Giorgi Botkoveli, also with his supporters. Several local non-governmental organizations in Telavi expressed their support for Girchi’s position. Before beginning of the convention, Roman Kevkhishvili asked to be allowed inside the hall. He is a journalist but was there as an ordinary citizen. Organizers of the convention and in particular, Head of the Communist party’s office in Telavi, Temur Pipia refused to let him in because of the T-shirt that Kevkhishvili was wearing. The T-shirt bore a crossed out Soviet symbol (hammer and sickle) and an inscription about Putin. Claiming that he had a constitutional right to attend the meeting, Kevkhishvili continued asking to be allowed inside. Temur Pipia assaulted him and smacked him in his face. As a result, a fight broke out. Kevkhishvili swore at Pipia and threw an egg at him. Then he called the police and demanded that they take action. The police arrived promptly, established facts and detained Pipia. He was taken to Kakheti Regional Police Department. In the meantime, verbal confrontation between leaders of the Socialist Georgia, participants of the rally and local population continued. Leaders of the Socialist Georgia used hate speech and obscene language numerous times, against rally organizers, participants and journalists (“American pigs”, “nation sold for dollars”, “stupid capitalists”, “slaves of Americans”, “brainless society”, etc.). None of the protesters used obscene language or hate speech. The convention was eventually ruined. They left the scene and started marching towards the monument of Erekle the Second. Protesters followed, whistling and chanting “Georgia”. Grisha Oniani and Valeri Kvaratskhelia made speeches by the monument while protesters were chanting, “leave!” Suddenly 3 former military servicemen dressed in Soviet uniforms appeared. People protested their use of Soviet symbols. Patrol officers urged them to leave but they didn’t take any other measures against the military servicemen. Everyone was gone in about half an hour. Later ISFED learned that investigation into the beating of Roman Kevkhishvili was launched under para.1, Article 125 of the Criminal Code of Georgia. On August 6, court set a bail for him at GEL 1000. Next hearing is scheduled for September.