Iran Press/Asia: Tamar Kordzaia, leader of the opposition Republican Party in Georgia, said on Friday that the opposition would continue to hold protests to press it to achieve their demands.
The opposition parties in Georgia demanded the interior minister’s resignation, the release of protesters detained the previous night, and talks on holding an early parliamentary election, Reuters reported.
Crowds angry over the visit of a Russian lawmaker tried to storm Georgia’s parliament building on Thursday evening, pushing against lines of riot police, throwing bottles and grabbing riot shields from some officers and tearing off their helmets.
Georgia’s president later called Russia “an enemy and occupier” and suggested Moscow had helped trigger protests that rocked Tbilisi, but the Kremlin on Friday blamed radical Georgian politicians for what it called “an anti-Russian provocation”.
The speaker of parliament, Irakli Kobakhidze, resigned on Friday, satisfying one of the protesters’ earlier demands.
On Jun 21, Police in Georgia used tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannon to stop protesters storming the country’s parliament, leaving dozens requiring medical treatment. 101/211/214
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Dozens injured after Georgia police fire rubber bullets at demonstrators
