Georgia marks one year since violent anti-government protests

Record ID: 1558067

  • Title: Georgia marks one year since violent anti-government protests
  • Date: 20th June 2020
  • Summary: TBILISI, GEORGIA (FILE - JUNE 20, 2019) (REUTERS) ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS CLASHING WITH POLICE VARIOUS OF RIOT POLICE FIRING RUBBER BULLETS RIOT POLICE PUSHING PROTESTER
  • Embargoed: 4th July 2020 20:10
  • Keywords: Anti-Russian protest Goergian protest Putin placard social distance
  • Location: TBILISI, GEORGIA
  • City: TBILISI, GEORGIA
  • Country: Georgia
  • Reuters ID: LVA002CJ6CITJ
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Thousands of people gathered in the centre of the Georgian capital Tbilisi on Saturday (June 20) for a protest against the government and Russia, one year after the brutal dispersal of an anti-Kremlin demonstration.
    The demonstration was the first major gathering in the country during the coronavirus pandemic and organisers placed markers with the face of the Russian President Vladimir Putin on the ground to observe social distancing.
    The majority of participants were wearing protective masks, while organisers were distributing sanitizers.
    The protest on Saturday was organised by young activists who held daily protests outside the parliament building for three months last year after the protest on June 20 and drawing thousands at their peak.
    The protest movement erupted last June when a visiting Russian lawmaker was allowed to address the Georgian parliament from the speaker's chair, in Russian, touching a nerve in a country that fought a war with Russia 12 years ago.
    The rally outside parliament one year ago descended into violent clashes with police, who used tear gas and rubber bullets against protesters.
    More than 240 people were injured, including more than 30 journalists and 80 policemen. Two protesters, including 18-year-old Mako Gomuri, lost their eyesight.
    At the end of the protest demonstrators held up placards saying "We will meet at the election", referring to parliamentary vote later this year.
    (Production: David Chkhikvishvili, Dmitry Turlyun)
  • Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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