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Georgian Police Briefly Arrest Opposition Leader


TBILISI -- Georgian police briefly arrested opposition leader Aleksandr Shalamberidze in Tbilisi today, RFE/RL's Georgian Service reports.

Shalamberidze, one of the leaders of the opposition National Council, was arrested as he and some colleagues tried to enter the Tbilisian Publishing House offices, which have been sealed by authorities.

Police said he was reprimanded and released a short time later. His colleagues were still being held.

Opposition leaders say local authorities are putting pressure on the publishing house because it prints their election campaign materials.

Local elections are scheduled for May 30.

The chairman of the opposition People's Party, Koba Davitashvili, had threatened that opposition activists would block Tbilisi's central Rustaveli Avenue if Shalamberidze was not released.

The National Council unites several opposition parties.
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