President Zurabishvili, EU ambassadors discuss June 20 developments
President Zurabishvili has stated earlier today that unrest and confrontations in the country affect each citizen of Georgia and benefits enemy. Photo: President's press office
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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.
President Zurabishvili has stated earlier today that unrest and confrontations in the country affect each citizen of Georgia and benefits enemy.
We have no option but unification, reconciliation and following our European path, which I was sure to repeat to the European ambassadors who came to @GeorgiaPres Palace to discuss the situation in #Tbilisi. pic.twitter.com/cjPdwuEZG7
— Salome Zourabichvili (@Zourabichvili_S) June 21, 2019
Ambassador of Austria to Georgia Arad Benkö agreed with President Zurabishvili in his Twitter post that "reconciliation across party lines" is "crucial for Georgia's European way".
Late evening exchange of views btw EU Ambassadors and President @Zourabichvili_S. #Reconciliation across party lines crucial for #Georgia's European way. Agree! pic.twitter.com/0CziFEbqqG
— Arad Benkö (@AradBenkoe) June 21, 2019
Protests broke out on June 20 when Russian MP Sergei Gavrilov occupied the Georgian parliamentary speaker’s seat.
A total of 305 individuals were detained during last night’s clashes between police and protestors.
Police used tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannon as the protestors disobeyed them and violated public order, the Georgian Interior Ministry said.
Georgia’s ex-Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili responded to the June 20 developments in front of the parliament building in central Tbilisi, saying “the government has made a severe mistake, to which it admitted, but was late with its political response.”
People started gathering on Rustaveli Avenue at 7 p.m. today, after a rally was held and dispersed at the same place in front of the parliament yesterday. Many demonstrators have negatively reacted to the speeches of opposition leaders, stating that they came to protect the state interests and not to stand by any opposition force.
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.
The peaceful demonstration in front of the parliament of Georgia in central Tbilisi is still underway. The demands that were voiced by the protesters at the very beginning of the rally remain unchanged: the resignation of Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia; the release of people detained yesterday and holding of snap parliamentary elections with proportional electoral system.
Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze and Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani have held a meeting with foreign ambassadors this evening. The foreign diplomats have urged political parties to rule out violence.
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.
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.
Georgian top officials have opened a three-day, annual conference of ambassadors in Tbilisi, with the participation of Georgian diplomats, summarizing the diplomatic activities of 2019 and making plans for 2020.