The US embassy on Tbilisi protests: We urge the gov’t to proceed with balance and restraint
By Gvantsa Gabekhadze
Friday, June 28
The US Embassy to Georgia has commented on current protests in Georgia, triggered by the presence of Russian MPs in the country, and urged the Georgian Dream government to proceed with balance and restraint.
“We are closely following the developments in Georgia after the June 20 protests in Tbilisi. Although it is important that acts of violence, as well as incidents of excessive use of force against demonstrators, be investigated, we urge the Georgian authorities to proceed with balance and restraint. What is most needed at this time is a dialogue among all political actors that will strengthen Georgia’s democracy,” the embassy statement reads.
The EU and the Council of Europe officials have also urged for peace and dialogue.
Tbilisi protests were sparked by the presence of Russian MPs in the Georgian parliament during the 26th Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy, an international forum with delegations from 25 countries when Russian MP Sergey Gavrilov took the seat of the Georgian parliamentary speaker to address the audience.
The opposition blocked the assembly session as an MP from the occupant country, which is the president of the assembly, was allowed to sit in the chair and speak from the high tribute of Georgia’s legislative body.
The rally following the developments in parliament on June 20 was dispersed by police after some of the demonstrators decided to storm the parliament building.
The government says that a “fair and peaceful” protest of people was transformed into violence by the opposition.
A member of the United National Movement opposition Nika Melia was charged with incitement to violence during the rally.
Protests in Tbilisi continue as two of the four demands of the demonstrators remain unfulfilled – the resignation of Interior Minister Irakli Gakharia [for the dispersal of the rally] and the release of all individuals detained during the rally.
As of now, 54 remain in administrative imprisonment.
The opposition says that it is the government who must take the responsibility, as they allowed Russian MPs in the country and then “brutally dispersed the rally held against the Russian occupation and for the state dignity.”
The United National Movement has announced plans to create a “Gavrilov’s list,” which will include those in Georgia creating a threat to statehood and democracy.
Two demands fulfilled by the government are the resignation of Parliament Speaker Irakli Kobakhidze and the conduct of the coming parliamentary elections with proportional voting.
