- Title: GEORGIA-PROTEST Protesters in Georgia march against Russia's policy
- Date: 15th November 2014
- Summary: TBILISI, GEORGIA (NOVEMBER 15, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS MARCHING WITH GEORGIAN, UKRAINIAN AND EU FLAGS (SOUNDBITE) (English) ONE OF THE UNITED NATIONAL MOVEMENT (UNM) PARTY LEADERS, GIGA BOKERIA SAYING: "This is the clear message from Georgian public that we will never accept the fact of dismantling of our sovereignty by Putin's Kremlin, Russia and that we will never withdraw from the path that we have chosen to go back as a natural part of a free world, natural part of Europe. It's also a message to the government of Georgia, kind of verdict of the two years. We need the government which focuses on problems of the country and not on political retributions." VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS MARCHING PROTESTER HOLDING BROADSHEET SAYING "STOP RUSSIA!" (SOUNDBITE) (Georgian) LAWMAKER FROM THE UNM, GOKA GABASHVILI, SAYING: "We should make our voice be heard in the entire world, when our government is mute. It's very important that you today will say loudly "No!", "No!", "No to annexation!" VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS LOOKING AT THE STAGE (SOUNDBITE) (Georgian) PROTEST PARTICIPANT TBILISI RESIDENT, MANANA ILURIDZE, SAYING: "I came here, because I see that the current Georgian government is doing what Russia wants. I came, because I'm afraid that the worst can happen. I was standing here, when Russia was bombing us." BIG SCREEN DISPLAYING LEADERS OF PROTESTERS VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS
- Embargoed: 30th November 2014 12:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVALCPL7NXVVOO5TKEZGP632XUM
- Story Text: Thousands people occupied central streets of Georgia's capital Tbilisi for a protest rally against Russia's policy in Ukraine and Georgia. The protesters condemned Russia for the aggression in Georgia and Ukraine as well as accused the Georgian government of inaction to counter Moscow's aggressive policies.
Opponents say the current government is too reluctant to criticize Georgia's former overlord Moscow, notably over its interventions in Ukraine.
"This is the clear message from Georgian public that we will never accept the fact of dismantling of our sovereignty by Putin's Kremlin, Russia and that we will never withdraw from the path that we have chosen to go back as a natural part of a free world, natural part of Europe. It's also a message to the government of Georgia, kind of verdict of the two years. We need the government which focuses on problems of the country and not on political retributions," one of the United National Movement (UNM) party leaders Giga Bokeria said.
The mains reason of accusing Russia of aggression were the war between Russia and Georgia in 2008 as well as the annexation of Crimea in 2014.
"We should make our voice be heard in the entire world, when our government is mute. It's very important that you today will say loudly "No!", "No!", "No to annexation!" said lawmaker from the UNM, Goka Gabashvili at the stage appealing to the protesters.
Apart from Georgian flags, the demonstrators were also carrying Ukrainian and EU flags, as well as crossed porters of the Russian President Vladimir Putin.
One of the protest participants, Manama Iluridze, accused the current Georgian government of being pro-Russian, saying that it can lead to dangerous effects.
"I came here, because I see that the current Georgian government is doing what Russia wants. I came, because I'm afraid that the worst can happen. I was standing here, when Russia was bombing us," she said.
Russian forces entered Georgian territory in August 2008. Moscow said it was an operation to protect people in the separatist territory of South Ossetia from attacks by Tbilisi's troops, while Georgia and its Western allies accused Russia of an act of aggression.
The Crimean peninsula has a Russian-speaking majority and was a part of Russia until it was handed over to Ukraine in 1954 by then-Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev. In March of 2014 Crimea was incorporated into Russia as a result of a military intervention. The status of Crimea is an object of ongoing diplomatic dispute.
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