Time in Tbilisi: July 27, 2024 12:02
Protesters in Georgia's capital Tbilisi marked a week of demonstrations against the Russian occupation on the night of June 27 by holding a rally outside the residence of Bidzina Ivanishvili, the chairperson of the Georgian Dream party. Photo: Nino Alavidze/agenda.ge.
The night's protest started out of another day of demonstrations on Rustaveli Avenue that rallied against the occupation of two of Georgia's regions by Russian troops and demanded resignation of Minister of Internal Affairs Giorgi Gakharia for law enforcement's use of force against protesters on June 20 that left over 150 citizens injured. Photo: Nino Alavidze/agenda.ge.
On June 20, police in riot gear used tear gas, water cannons and rubber bullets on crowds attempting to storm the Parliament of Georgia after political opposition and citizens filled Rustaveli Avenue in protest of Russian State Duma MP Sergey Gavrilov's appearance in the chair of the speaker of the Georgian lawmaking body. Photo: Nino Alavidze/agenda.ge.
Protests on June 27 brought forward messages urging both Russian occupying troops in Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) to leave the territory and interior minister Gakharia to resign. Photo: Nino Alavidze/agenda.ge.
The Georgian Dream government consented to two of the protesters' demands since the start of demonstrations on June 20, with Speaker of the Parliament Irakli Kobakhidze resigning and the ruling party agreeing to hold the next parliamentary elections in 2020 based on proportional system. The government has resisted calls for Gakharia to resign as well. Photo: Nino Alavidze/agenda.ge.
Late in the evening on June 27 citizens - most of them young - rode scooters from Rustaveli Avenue to the Business Centre of Georgian Dream chairperson Ivanishvili, a residence on Mtatsminda hillside in Tbilisi overlooking the city. Photo: Nino Alavidze/agenda.ge.
The group of citizens said they would "peacefully demonstrate an example of a civil society" by gathering outside the business centre at 10pm to make their voice heard by Ivanishvili. Those taking part claimed comments by Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze aimed at de-escalating the week-long events showed he was "not in charge of anything", instead answering to the party chairperson. Photo: Nino Alavidze/agenda.ge.
A young participant of the rally photographed on Freedom Square, as the group headed on the road leading up to the business centre complex. Photo: Nino Alavidze/agenda.ge.
Baloons bearing messages including those aimed at minister Gakharia and Russian occupying troops were strapped down onto scooters as the demonstrators headed for the residence of former prime minister Ivanishvili. Photo: Nino Alavidze/agenda.ge.
Even though protests were reduced in intensity since political opposition, public figures and citizens poured onto Rustaveli Avenue on June 20, messages against the occupation and government's response remained unchanged. Photo: Nino Alavidze/agenda.ge.
A protester photographed during the June 27 rally on scooters that aimed to bring messages from young people straight to the leader of the Georgian Dream ruling party. Photo: Nino Alavidze/agenda.ge.
Riding scooters, the demonstrators are photographed after arriving at the entrance of a tunnel just below the complex of buildings comprising the business centre residence. Photo: Nino Alavidze/agenda.ge.
A portrait of Russian president Vladimir Putin is printed with a symbol of the Soviet hammer and sickle and a phrase related to the ongoing occupation of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) by Russian troops is seen on the back of a protester's shirt during the rally. Photo: Nino Alavidze/agenda.ge.
The tunnel, which leads to the business centre buildings, was secured by law enforcement as the protesters took up a spot nearby to display their messages and voice their demands. Photo: Nino Alavidze/agenda.ge.
A demonstrator is seen with a message demanding changes to make the Georgian law on occupied territories more strict, "for a secure and more democratic state". Photo: Nino Alavidze/agenda.ge.
Participants of the rally blow horns in the tunnel below the business centre residence of Georgian Dream party chairman Bidzina Ivanishvili. Photo: Nino Alavidze/agenda.ge.
The young demonstrators also brought yellow cards with them as a sign of warning to the government and Ivanishvili for the incident involving Russian Duma MP Gavrilov at the Georgian parliament as well as law enforcement's actions against those protesting in the streets on the night of June 20-21. Photo: Nino Alavidze/agenda.ge.
A protester told local InterPressNews news agency Ivanishvili would face a "red card" in case of another development that would make citizens express their discontent with the government, while also reiterating the demand to relieve interior minister of his position. Photo: Nino Alavidze/agenda.ge.
Young citizens demonstrate outside the business centre complex with a message related to the use of force by riot police that left protesters and reporters injured on the night of June 20-21 in Tbilisi. Photo: Nino Alavidze/agenda.ge.
As police blocked part of the tunnel below Ivanishvili's residence, those taking part in the rally displayed their messages nearby. Photo: Nino Alavidze/agenda.ge.
A portrait of Vladimir Putin is seen on a mirror reflecting the gathering outside the Mtatsminda residence of Bidzina Ivanishvili on the night of June 27. Photo: Nino Alavidze/agenda.ge.