UPDATED: Protesters march to gov't administration, pause protest for now
June 23 rallies feature hardly any participation of political leaders of the opposition, and much more emphasis from common citizens and youth. Photo: Nino Alaidze/Agenda.ge
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Updated: 00:41, June 24
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 ended for today.
Composed again largely of young demonstrators, the crowds marched on Rustaveli Avenue to the administrative building of the Government of Georgia in a sign of peaceful protest.
Earlier: 21:23, June 23
A peaceful demonstration in front of the parliament of Georgia is underway on Rustaveli Avenue in central Tbilisi for the fourth consecutive day.
People have gathered again demanding the resignation of Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia, the release of people detained on June 20, the punishment of police officers who used excessive force during the clash with protesters and the holding of snap parliamentary elections with proportional electoral system.
Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
The four days of rallies followed initial smaller-sized protests in the noon on Thursday, when political opposition and citizens demanded repercussions for the government for letting a Russian delegation to Tbilisi for an international event hosted by Georgia.
Protesters expressed their anger at seeing a Russian State Duma MP speak from the Georgian parliament speaker's chair as Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia), two Georgian regions, are occupied by the Russian military.
Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
Misha Mshvildadze, one of the moderators of the rally, thanked everyone for their solidarity amid Russia’s ban on flights with Georgia.
Mshvildadze said it is President Vladimir Putin, who is the only “enemy of Georgia”, not Russian people. He also urged everyonenot to interfere with the work of journalists, including the Russian crews.
Mshvildadze also thanked the lawyers who are protecting the rights of those detained on June 20, as well as the police officers, who “are protecting us.”
As of now, June 23 rallies feature hardly any participation of political leaders of the opposition, and much more emphasis from common citizens and youth.
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".
Over 12,000 Russian citizens have signed an online petition calling on Russian President Vladimir Putin to cancel his recent ban on flights between Russia and Georgia. "Allow flights between Georgia and Russia, as Russian citizens in Georgia are in safety. As for the protest rallies – this is the right of the Georgian citizens”, the text of the petition reads.
The Georgian Foreign Ministry announced today that the state institutions are fully ensuring public order and safety in the country amid the recent protest rallies in Georgia. It also said, the international community, including the OSCE, has been informed on the steps that the state has taken for ensuring the safety during the protest rallies in front of the parliament of Georgia in Tbilisi and throughout the country.
The rally, which started at 11 a.m., calls upon the public to join them to “make the court” deliver fair verdicts for those detained during the June 20 rally in central Tbilisi, which was sparked by the presence of Russian MPs in the country and in the Georgian parliament.
Georgian nationals living abroad have held several rallies in solidarity with the Tbilisi protests of the June 20 events. Protestors are holding banners that read ‘20% of Georgia is occupied by Russia’, ‘Russia is an occupier’ and other words critical of the ruling Georgian Dream party.
The Georgian Chief Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation into police actions during the June 20-21 rallies in central Tbilisi, which left 305 detained and 240 injured.
Ten law enforcers have been suspended from duty due to possible abuse of power during the June 20-21 rally in central Tbilisi, sparked by the presence of Russian MPs in Georgia, the Georgian Interior Ministry says.
Lithuania is one of the first countries that has joined a new campaign supporting the Georgia’s tourism industry by calling on more of their citizens to visit the country. Ambassador of Lithuania to Georgia Giedrius Poudziunas believes Georgia is “a wonderful environment” for adventure.