Guyana: clashes outside Georgetown court after Azruddin Mohamed's extradition hearing

Supporters of Guyana's opposition leader, Azruddin Mohamed, clashed with police on Monday, November 2, outside the Georgetown Magistrates' Court, where he was appearing in extradition proceedings requested by the United States. According to Demerara Waves, the protesters, fewer than 200, pushed down police barriers at the corner of Brickdam and Avenue of the Republic and moved toward the courthouse.

Police officers with shields charged the crowd with batons and fired tear gas, Demerara Waves reports. The outlet also describes officers running back from the surging crowd while their colleagues fired the gas. Guyana Times and News Americas also report that pellets or rubber bullets were fired to disperse the protesters. Shots were heard and bottles were thrown at police, but it is not known who fired. A small fire was then set in front of Stabroek Market and put out by police. Local media reported no injuries or arrests. The state-owned Guyana Chronicle accuses the protesters of attacking police officers and destroying property. A supporter of Azruddin Mohamed gives another version in a video from Prime News Guyana: he says protesters were chanting "no justice, no peace" when the opposition leader was brought out of the court, and police then started shooting at them.

Earlier in the day, the head of the police Special Branch, Prem Narine, was met with protest from WIN supporters as he left the court, according to a video published by Kaieteur News. He is a witness in the extradition proceedings and repeated that he fears for his life, according to Demerara Waves. Shots were fired outside his home in Kitty on October 12. In that case, Azruddin Mohamed is barred from contacting him or his family, according to Guyana Times.

Still in custody

The same day, Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman refused the prosecution's request to revoke Azruddin Mohamed's bail in the extradition case, according to Guyana Times. Pending charges without a conviction are not enough to revoke it, she ruled, according to Demerara Waves. The extradition hearing, requested by the United States on money laundering and wire fraud charges, resumed in the afternoon. He nonetheless remains in prison: on October 30, Magistrate Abigail Gibbs remanded him until November 24 in a separate case, a charge under the Cybercrime Act over the alleged release of surveillance footage. Police accuse him of paying a constable 800,000 Guyanese dollars to obtain it. He has also faced charges since October over shots fired near Prem Narine's home. He and his lawyer say the gun was planted. His lawyers plan to seek bail from the High Court.

According to Demerara Waves, Azruddin Mohamed described his cell at Lusignan Prison as "maximum punishment". His sister, Hana Mohamed, says he is held alone, with the lights kept on at all times. The Guyana Prison Service rejects these claims. The family says protests will continue outside the court. Forward Guyana Movement leader Amanza Walton-Desir called on the government to de-escalate. Home Affairs Minister Oneidge Walrond urged calm: "Whatever our political differences, we are all Guyanese." Before the rally, police had warned that some violent acts could be prosecuted as terrorism.

Azruddin Mohamed and his father, Nazar Mohamed, have been under US sanctions since June 2024 over corruption and tax evasion on gold exports. Arrested in October 2025 on an extradition request based on an indictment in Florida, he founded the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party, which came second in the 2025 elections, and has led the opposition since January 2026.