Tbilisi protests lead to public solidarity against Russian occupation
Citizens who gathered for the second consecutive day in front of the Parliament in Tbilisi wore accessories and displayed signs related to the treatment of protesters from the police on June 20, and the fact that 20 percent of Georgia is occupied by Russian troops. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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Russian president Vladimir Putin’s decision to ban flights to Georgia amid the protest rallies in Tbilisi following a Russian delegation’s recent visit to Georgia has caused even wider public solidarity among the local population against the Russian occupation.
A number of people and companies have expressed their willingness to help those injured during the clash between police and protesters on June 20, as well as to support and encourage Georgian companies which may be affected by the end of flights between Tbilisi and Moscow.
A young participant is seen with a shirt bearing a message condemning the presence of Russian troops in Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) and the erection of barbed wire administrative boundaries separating Georgian-controlled territory from the two regions. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
Konstantin Sulamanidze, a doctor of plastic and aesthetic surgery of the Total Charm clinic said he and his team will be happy to receive those affected during the recent clash with police free of charge.
Fifth Season Hotel suggests imposing a 20% tax on Russian citizens who do not condemn Russia’s occupation of the two Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia).
Every Russian citizen who does not condemn Putin's Russian imperialist regime will be added tax on our country's occupation by 20%!” the Fifth Season Hotel wrote on its official Facebook page.
Under the slogans “Russia is an Occupier” and “No to Russia” estate agent REMAX Capital said the company will not provide their service to Russian citizens looking to buy real estate in Georgia.
We call on our colleagues to join our initiative! Let the sale of property be closed to Russian citizens!” the company stated.
Horizons Group, which is building a premium class, multifunctional hotel-residence complex in Georgia’s Black Sea town of Batumi also joined the protest wave.
Not any citizen of any country will be able to buy an apartment in the complex of the Horizons Batumi if they do not confirm the point set out in our contract”, the company announced.
It said the main point of their contract is that the buyer should recognise the territorial integrity of Georgia and consider Abkhazia and Tskhinvali as Georgian regions.
Lawyer Zviad Kordzadze also called on everyone to spend summer holidays in Georgian resorts, as Putin’s recent embargo may badly affect the local tourism sector.
He said he will spend a week in August with his family in a Georgian hotel instead of travelling abroad.
A view of the crowd in front of the Parliament of Georgia. Thousands were present in the location on both days of protests. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
Duma MP Sergei Gavrilov's appearance at the Georgian parliament on Thursday sparked protests from political figures and citizens outside the parliament building and preceded their recurring physical clashes with police on Rustaveli Avenue throughout the night of June 20-21.
Official Russian reaction to developments in Tbilisi have included calls for boycotting tourism and trade goods with Georgia and demands for Russia's participation in the investigation of recent events.
The peaceful demonstration in front of the parliament of Georgia in central Tbilisi will resume at 7 p.m. today. Protesters made their feelings about Russian president Vladimir Putin known on the Rustaveli Avenue on Friday, as a younger crowd gathered on the street on the second day of demonstrations.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili spoke with foreign diplomats about the June 20 protest and expressed her readiness to meet every political force that rejects the “destructive calls”. “We have no option but unification, reconciliation and following our European path”, she stated.
Russian president Vladimir Putin has ordered a ban on flights to Georgia as part of Russian state reaction to protest in Tbilisi following a Duma MP's appearance in the Tbilisi parliament.
14 protesters out of those detained during clashes with police last night have been sentenced to 12 days of administrative detention. They were sentenced for hooliganism and clashes with the police.
The Government of Georgia will be utmost principled and protect the country’s sovereignty as well as the economic welfare of its citizens, Irakli Chikovani, Strategic Communication Advisor to the Prime Minister stated. Chikovani made the statement on behalf of the government amid the official Russian reaction to developments in Tbilisi to boycott tourism and trade goods with Georgia.
The Georgian Interior Ministry has called on demonstrators gathered in front of the parliament on the third consecutive day not to exceed the legal framework of the freedom of expression and to maintain public order.
The peaceful demonstration in front of the parliament of Georgia that followed a Russian State Duma MP speaking from the Georgian parliament speaker's chair on June 20, has resumed at 7 p.m. today. Composed largely of young demonstrators, the crowds are now marching on Rustaveli Avenue in central Tbilisi in a sign of a peaceful protest.
The recent address to “friends around the world” has gone viral in online media, calling on the rest of the world to come to Georgia amid Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent ban on flights with Georgia. Georgians invite travellers from all over the world to come to their country and "experience best wine, tastiest food and unforgettable hospitality provided by some of the warmest hearted people in the world".
Russia's Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing has announced a "strengthening of control" over alcoholic drinks imported from Georgia, in a move reminiscent of a 2006 embargo on wine from the country.
Moscow believes that there is ‘Russophobic hysteria’ in Georgia and the resumption of Russia-Georgia direct flights, banned by the order of Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 21, is unlikely to take place until the attitude is changed, Russian President’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov says.
Ukraine's former president Petro Poroshenko has urged citizens of his country to travel to Georgian resorts and counter Russia's efforts to "weaken Georgia economically" following president Vladimir Putin's ban on flights to the country.
The Russian President’s Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov calls on Russian artists who planned to perform in Georgia “to think of their safety”. Peskov told Interfax news agency today that Russian artists should take into consideration that their trip to Georgia “may be dangerous” amid the ongoing protest rallies.