Protests in Tbilisi - Fourth Day | Currently Europe | '
With their protests for the fourth consecutive day, the crowd tried to reiterate their displeasure with their own government and concern about Russia's growing influence on the former Soviet republic. The demonstrators marched in front of Parliament and temporarily stopped traffic. On posters they condemned the influence of the oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, who founded the ruling party Georgian Dream, on the country's politics. Ivanishvili is considered a strong man behind the scenes in Georgia.
The protesters also demanded the resignation of Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia over police use of tear gas and rubber bullets against protesters last Thursday. There had been more than 200 injured and about 300 arrests.
Also in the sights of the demonstrators: Russian President Vladimir Putin. Many people are worried that Moscow could have more influence in Georgia. "We fight against Putinism," said the well-known Georgian author Lasha Bugadze at the rally.
Nocturnal protest in front of the seat of parliament
The trigger for the wave of protest was the speech of a Russian deputy in parliament in Tbilisi on Thursday. He had spoken during an international session from the seat of the President of Parliament. At the event on religious and political issues, the Duma deputies had taken over the chairmanship. Many Georgians rated this as an affront.
Kremlin: "anti-Russian provocation"
The relationship between Georgia and its big neighbor Russia is shattered. In a short war in 2008, the South Caucasus republic lost its breakaway territories Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Despite international criticism, Russia recognizes both regions as independent states.
Kremlin chief Putin had massively restricted air traffic to the neighboring country in reaction to the protests in Georgia. He criticized the demonstrations as an "anti-Russian provocation".
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