Ambassador of Ukraine leaves the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy in protest as Russian MP addresses audience
Ihor Dolhov refused to listen to the Russian MP as the Russian Federation continues to occupy Ukraine and Georgia. Photo: georgia.mfa.gov.ua
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The Ambassador of Ukraine to Georgia Ihor Dolhov temporarily left the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy in protest when the member of the Russian parliament Sergei Gavrilov was addressing the audience in Tbilisi.
Dolhov later told the journalists that he refused to listen to the Russian MP as the Russian Federation continues to occupy Ukraine and Georgia.
Gavrilov is the President of the General Assembly of the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy, which is held in Tbilisi on June 19-23.
He is also the Chairman of the Committee on Issues of Public Associations and Religious Organisations of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, also known as the State Duma.
The Russian MP said ahead of today’s reception at the palace of the state ceremonies in Tbilisi that he feels "very happy" to be in Georgia and that Georgia is his "homeland".
A group of citizens also protested Gavrilov’s arrival with a demonstration outside the palace of state ceremonies. The demonstrators accused Gavrilov of fighting against Georgians in Abkhazia in 1990s.
Calling Gavrilov the “ideological ally” of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the demonstrators said the former has initiated a draft law in 2011 providing assistance fo de-facto authorities of Georgia’s two Russian occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia).
In his opening speech Georgian Parliamentary Speaker Irakli Kobakhidze also underscored that despite their Orthodox Christianity, it is the Russian political leadership that stands behind the occupation of two Georgian regions.
Due to the Russian Federation’s “destructive attitude” the 47th round of Geneva International Discussions of April 2-3, have again ended without tangible results, Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Lasha Darsalia said after the two-day meetings.
The Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has announced its judgment today in the case of Georgia v. Russia, regarding the arrest, detention and collective expulsion of Georgian nationals from Russia in the autumn of 2006.
Russian MPs who participated in the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy held in the Georgian parliament earlier today are leaving Georgia after an incident took place when Russian MP Sergey Gavrilov took the seat of the Georgian parliamentary speaker, Tbilisi Mayor, Secretary General of the Georgian Dream ruling party Kakha Kaladze says.
Russian MP Sergey Gavrilov has claimed "radicals" in the Parliament of Georgia doused him in water and attempted to forcefully take his papers in an incident at the lawmaking body in Tbilisi on Thursday.
Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze says that it was very difficult for him to see a Russian MP speak from the seat of the Georgian parliamentary chair. He says that the fact “affects national interests and the Georgian parliament.”
Russian MP Alexey Chepa, who is currently paying a visit to Georgia to attend the interparliamentary session on Orthodoxy, has denied occupation of Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) by Russia. Has also called for the return of the Soviet Union, and for the countries of the former USSR to be reunited.
Georgian opposition MPs have interrupted the 26th Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (IAO) after a Russian MP and president of the assembly, Sergey Gavrilov addressed the audience from the Georgian parliamentary speaker’s chair earlier today.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gregory Karasin says that the “tone used” towards Russia by US State Secretary Mike Pompeo during his meeting with Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze “is not something that is in Russian interests.”
Georgian Parliament Speaker Irakli Kobakhidze says that the increased militarisation of the two occupied regions of Georgia Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) by Russia is alarming and Georgia is in need of the support of the international community.