Demonstrators use car horns at gov’t headquarters to make demands heard
Demonstrators at the administration building of the Government of Georgia have one again demanded the resignation of Interior Minister. Photo: Agenda.ge.
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Public activists and the opposition came with car horns at the administration building of the government on Georgia earlier today to demand the authorities dismiss Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia.
We have heard that the Prime Minister thanked Gakharia for the dispersal of the June 20 rally. We have come here to show the government that it is the people who make the decision on who will be in the building tomorrow,” Giga Makarashvili, one of the activists told the media.
Organisers of the Tbilisi protests, which were sparked by the presence of Russian MPs in the Georgian parliament on June 20, say that provocations might be staged during the rallies and they urged the police to ensure the safety of peaceful protests.
The demonstrators stayed shortly and then they left the nearby street of the government headquarters. Video:Agenda.ge.
The Georgian Dream government has already met two demands of the opposition – the resignation of Parliament Speaker Irakli Kobakhidze and the holding of the upcoming parliamentary elections with the fully proportional vote.
The third demand is the resignation of Gakharia, whom they blame for the dispersal of the June 20 rally in central Tbilisi, leaving 240 injured and 305 detained.
Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze accused the United National Movement opposition and ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili of turning the people’s “justified and peaceful protest” into unrest due to their “destructive actions and calls.”
He thanked police earlier today from saving the country from the unrest which could have been caused if the demonstrators managed to storm the parliament building.
Gakharia says that the June 20 rally was peaceful only until 10 p.m., and then the opposition managed to push groups of people attack police “and state institutions.”
Gakharia says it is easy to resign in the situation. Photo: Prime Minister's press office.
It is not a problem for me to go, resignation is the easiest step I can take… If it is confirmed that police acted unlawfully or the measures taken [again protests] were illegal, I will resign immediately,” Gakharia stated.
Minister of Infrastructure of Georgia Maia Tskhitishvili said that Gakharia must not resign, as police acted in line with the law.
The issue of [Gahkaria’s] responsibility would only be raised if he had failed to prevent the siege of the parliament”, Tskitishvili said.
Justice Minister Thea Tsulukiani says that Gakharia’s resignation is not on the agenda and the official is not trying to avoid responsibilities.
Tsulukiani said that the investigation is in progress, adding that Gakharia’s resignation is in the interests of those who triggered the unrest.
The European Georgia opposition has presented a resolution text in parliament today demanding Gakharia’s resignation.
Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze says that Georgia’s foreign partners have no questions regarding the legality of the use of force during the June 20 rally in Tbilisi, used “to suspend the siege on the Georgian parliament and protect statehood.”
The Georgian Chief Prosecutor’s Office says it will appeal the decision of Tbilisi City Court yesterday to release opposition MP Nika Melia on 30,000 GEL [$10,000]bail, after being charged with incitement to violence on June 20 rally in Tbilisi.
The Georgian Parliament’s Procedural and Legal Issues Committee has approved the suspension of MP immunity for opposition MP Nika Melia, giving a green light to the Chief Prosecutor’s Office to detain the legislator for possible incitement to violence during the June 20 rally in Tbilisi.
Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze says that the “destructive and irresponsible” calls and appeals by the opposition transformed “a peaceful and justified” rally in Tbilisi into unrest on June 20 and the opposition members carry responsibility for that, commenting on recent charges against United National Movement MP Nika Melia.
Peaceful demonstrators gathered in front of the parliament of Georgia in central Tbilisi for the ninth consecutive day yesterday, again demanding the resignation of Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia. Responding to the earlier calls from Georgia’s ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili to demand snap parliamentary elections, one of the organisers of the rally said their initial demands will not be changed.
Peaceful demonstrators have gathered on Rustaveli Avenue in central Tbilisi for the tenth consecutive day today, again demanding the resignation of Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia. The protesters marched from the First Republic Square to the Freedom Square in sign of peaceful protest before they would resume the demonstration in front ot the parliament of Georgia.