Brit ‘beaten by police, accused of being a ‘spy’ and thrown in jail after being jumped by police as he left a bar in Georgia’

A British man arrested in Georgia last week after 200,000 people took to the streets of the capital to protest against the government says he was beaten by police who tried to portray him as a Western spy.

Daniel Travis, 28, was arrested last Saturday for allegedly breaking into Parliament House but was finally released yesterday.

The intense protests were sparked by the government’s decision to suspend negotiations on the country’s accession to the European Union.

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze suggested that the Briton was a “foreign instructor” tasked with orchestrating violence.

Speaking to The Times after his release, Travis denied the Georgian leader’s claims and said he had not attended the protests.

He said he was walking home from a nearby bar when masked riot police beat him and dragged him into parliament in an attempt to pin him as a British spy.

Once inside, he said he was interviewed by pro-government media.

“They tried to make me look like a spy or whatever they want to make me look like,” the Brit said.

The intense protests were sparked by the government’s decision to suspend negotiations on the country’s accession to the European Union. Travis says he was walking home from a bar when he was jumped by police

People gathered to protest the results of last month’s parliamentary elections outside the Parliament Building on December 9, 2024 in Tbilisi, Georgia

‘I never tried to break into parliament. The amount of police there makes it impossible for someone to break in. It’s fucking ridiculous.

‘I have never worked for a government agency. I have always obeyed the law. “I don’t go to protests, not even in England, let alone in a country where I don’t know the language,” he said.

Travis was sentenced to 10 days in jail on a charge of public disorder.

Speaking about the detention center where he was held, Travis said it was “very small and dirty” and claimed he was not fed for three days.

‘It’s not bothering me mentally. It’s really taken a toll on my health, and you know, it’s been pretty tough.”

Georgia plunged into full-blown civil unrest last week when scores of protesters overran Tbilisi and clashed with police following the government’s decision to suspend its EU accession bid.

The country’s parliament building was set on fire by angry rioters who threw fireworks and stones, while an effigy of Bidzina Ivanishvili, the shadowy founder of the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party, was stuffed onto a pyre and set on fire under cheers and cheers from the crowd.

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze (pictured) claimed without evidence that there was a ‘British citizen who illegally broke into the parliament building’

Protesters clash with police during a demonstration against the government’s decision to postpone European Union membership negotiations amid a post-election crisis, outside the Georgian parliament in Tbilisi, early December 1, 2024

Protesters light a fire at the foot of a makeshift barricade erected on a street in Tbilisi early December 1, 2024, during demonstrations against the government’s decision to postpone talks on European Union membership during a post-EU crisis elections.

Protesters carrying Georgian and European flags clash with police during a demonstration against the government’s decision to postpone talks on European Union membership during a post-election crisis, in Tbilisi, early December 1, 2024

Police use tear gas to disperse Georgian opposition supporters protesting in front of the parliament building in Tbilisi, Georgia, November 30, 2024

Police officers escort a demonstrator during a meeting of supporters of opposition parties, protesting against the new government’s decision to suspend accession negotiations with the European Union and refuse budget subsidies until 2028, in Tbilisi, Georgia, November 30, 2024

Protesters light a fire at the foot of a makeshift barricade erected on a Tbilisi street during demonstrations against the government’s decision to postpone European Union membership talks

Protesters gather outside the Parliament building, center left, to protest against the government’s decision to suspend negotiations on accession to the European Union for four years in Tbilisi, Georgia, on Saturday, November 30, 2024

Supporters of Georgia’s opposition parties hold a rally to protest the government’s decision to suspend talks on joining the European Union, outside the Parliament building

Fireworks were also thrown while riot police were present, with one video showing a lone protester attacking police with a fireworks ‘machine gun’.

Police were accused of assaulting protesters. Witnesses reported seeing demonstrators in Tbilisi being chased and beaten by police as demonstrators gathered in front of the country’s parliament.

One video showed a woman lying weakly on the ground and a police officer kicking her in the head, before collapsing as a second officer ran over and kicked her.

Observers could be heard screaming as they witnessed the violent scene. Officials said 44 people were hospitalized by police-deployed water cannon and tear gas.