The Georgian Orthodox Church has called on the authorities “to take a political decision” and release three activists from the youth opposition groups arrested in connection with in connection with assault on public TV journalist.

The statement says that by doing so the authorities would help “to at least partially” defuse tensions flared up after the police and protesters clashed late on Wednesday.

The Georgian Orthodox Church has also called on the political parties not to take any action that might “go beyond the constitutional framework.”