TBILISI (Ruptly) — Clashes between police and protesters, demanding early parliamentary elections, kicked off near the Georgian parliament on Friday in Tbilisi.

Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakahriya announced his resignation on Thursday, February 18, in Tbilisi in order to avoid “political polarisation” following a court’s decision to place opposition party leader Nika Melia in pretrial detention. Gakhariya condemned the detention of the opposition figure saying that it could lead to the escalation of political instability in the country.

The Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs suspended the arrest of Melia after Gakhariya announced his resignation.

Police tried to prevent the members of the rally from setting up tents in front of the parliamentary building.

The Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs reported the detention of ten protesters for disobeying police officers orders.

The Georgian Dream Party’s political council proposed the candidacy of Georgian Defence Minister Irakli Garibashvili as the new Prime Minister.