Russian MP, whose action sparked rallies in Tbilisi, says unrest was planned
Russian MP Sergey Gavrilov says that the demonstration in Tbilisi was not his fault. Photo: Tass.
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Russian MP Sergey Gavrilov, whose address in the Georgian parliament sparked demonstrations in Tbilisi yesterday, says that the unrest was beforehand planned “by radical Georgian opposition forces,” who used the presence of Russian MPs in the parliament building as a reason to start anti-government rallies.
Gavrilov, who sat in the chair of the Georgian parliamentary speaker and addressed the audience during the 26th Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy early yesterday, says that the Georgian government members urged the Russian delegation leave the country to ease tension.
However, the situation got worse when we left. What is happening now is an attempt of radical, liberal, anti-state forces to come to power,” Russian media Tass cites Gavrilov as saying.
Gavrilov says that occupying the seat of the Georgian parliamentary speaker was not provocative as he has taken the seat in other countries as well as the president of the assembly.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gregory Karasin also pointed at the Georgian opposition.
Radical Georgian political forces are trying to oppose normalisation of relations between Georgia and Russia. We will continue our actions calmly to intensify relations with Tbilisi,” Karasin said.
Another rally is scheduled to take place later today. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
Russian State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin has criticized the Georgian government for allowing the incident against the Russian delegation during the international forum.
"As an organiser, Georgia was responsible for hosting an important international forum and ensuring safety of its participants. These conditions were just ignored - they failed to hold the event and to protect the Russian delegation from attacks and threats," he said.
More than 50 people were injured at the rally in Tbilisi yesterday, which followed the presence of the Russian delegation in the Georgian parliament and particularly the address made by Gavrilov from the high tribune.
Demonstrators gathered on Central avenue of Tbilisi protested upon the entry of MPs of an occupant country into Georgia and in the country’s legislative body.
International media outlets have responded to the June 20 developments in Tbilisi where people held a protest rally during the visit of Russian MPs to Tbilisi. The BBC reports that Georgian opposition MPs called for protests in response to Russian MP Gavrilov’s decision to deliver a speech from the parliamentary speaker's seat.
The Georgian media reported that the number of journalists, cameramen and photographers representing a number of local news organisations is increasing after the recent clash in central Tbilisi.
President of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili has called for "calm" amid unrest in Tbilisi as protesting crowds have been dispersed by police using tear gas in front of the parliament building.
The United National Movement opposition party says that a demonstration on Rustaveli Avenue will be held at 7 p.m. today as the current Georgian Dream state leadership “has turned into a regime,” and the Georgian people “no longer want their leadership.” The opposition has three demands regarding top officials and elections.
240 individuals were hospitalised after yesterday’s rally in Tbilisi, many of them with minor injuries, 80 were law enforcers, Deputy Health Minister Zaza Bokhua stated earlier today while visiting patients at the Ingorokva Clinic in Tbilisi.
Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatović has called on "all sides" of the clashes in Tbilisi to "resolve any controversies through peaceful dialogue" after the confrontation left 240 individuals injured on Thursday night.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Irakli Kobakhidze has resigned amid public protests after a Russian MP addressed the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy from the chair of the Georgian parliament speaker in Tbilisi yesterday.
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.
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.
Russian officials on Friday called for boycott of tourism and trade relations with Georgia following what President Putin's administration called a "Russophobic provocation" in Tbilisi clashes the previous day.
The official Kremlin response decried the events as a "dangerous display", while the State Duma's Tourism Committee head called for boycott of Georgian tourist resorts and trade goods, among reactions.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has called insults against Russian President Vladimir Putin by Georgian TV anchor Giorgi Gabunia “unacceptable,” but said that the Georgian government and people have responded to the event “in the right way.”