Georgian Opposition Calls for New Protest

The Georgian opposition has announced a new protest in front of the Parliament building in Tbilisi on Wednesday at noon.

“Today, disproportionate force was used against the peaceful demonstration by special forces and police. Numerous participants of the rally were detained, including the leader of the opposition 'Girchi' party Zurab Japaridze. In a few hours, more people will gather in front of the Parliament than yesterday,” opposition leader Giorgi Vashadze of the 'Strategy Agmashenebeli' party told reporters.

He believes that “the international community will definitely condemn the current government of Georgia for dispersing a peaceful demonstration.”

The standoff between the opposition and police continued overnight: “The square in front of the Parliament building is fully controlled by the police and special battalions. Several dozen opposition members are on Rustaveli Avenue, near the police lines. From time to time, the police detain protesters who approach them,” reported an Interfax.ru correspondent.

On Tuesday, following the first reading of a foreign agents law by the Parliament, opposition leaders called on their supporters to gather, during which there were several clashes with the police. Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili expressed her support for the protesters and promised to veto the law.