The Georgian leadership has requested a police cordon at the memorial to the victims of April 9.

The flower-laying ceremony at the memorial to those killed on April 9 took place amid whistles and chants from protesters. Hundreds of police officers surrounded members of the Georgian leadership. One person was detained. Protesters are not interfering with the laying of flowers by representatives of other countries and ordinary citizens.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," on April 8, the 497th day of continuous protests, mothers and fathers of prisoners of conscience gathered outside the Georgian parliament building. They announced that, holding photographs of their children, they would spend the entire night at the memorial to the heroes who died on April 9, 1989.

Georgia's top officials laid flowers at the memorial to the victims of the events of April 9, 1989, in central Tbilisi amid a noisy protest.

As Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, along with President Mikheil Kavelashvili and Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili, walked toward the memorial through an honor guard, whistles, shouts, and protest slogans like "slaves" and "traitors" could be heard from the assembled demonstrators. Hundreds of police officers surrounded the protesters, temporarily restricting their access to the memorial, according to Georgian News.

Near the parliament building, where citizens continue to gather to commemorate those killed on April 9, police detained one man.

The man attempted to remove wreaths laid by government representatives from the memorial grounds. He also shouted obscenities at Bidzina Ivanishvili, the honorary founder of the Georgian Dream party, which led to his arrest, InterPressNews reported, citing activist Mariam Mekantsishvili.

The man was wearing a T-shirt with insults directed at Ivanishvili and Kobakhidze, Tbilisi Life reports.

The mothers of those detained during the protests and civil activists are also at the April 9 memorial, InterPressNews reports.

The demonstrators claim that representatives of the ruling Georgian Dream party have no "moral right" to be present at the memorial, as they believe the current government has abandoned its pro-Western course and is strengthening ties with Russia. The demonstrators intend to remain at the monument until the end of the day. They do not prevent ordinary citizens, Western ambassadors, or opposition politicians from accessing the monument, according to Novosti Georgia.

Protesters in Georgia have been demanding new parliamentary elections and the release of political prisoners since November 28, 2024. Security forces have violently dispersed the protests, using tear gas and water cannons, and have detained protesters. Thousands of people have been subjected to administrative prosecution during the protests. The "Caucasian Knot" has prepared a report, "The Main Thing About the Persecution of Protesters in Georgia".