Heavy & bloody riots in Tbilisi, Georgia after provocation by Russian MP in the Georgian Parliament

21 June 2019 - 0 Submitted by FTN Editorial Team

Thousands of protesters tried on Thursday to storm the parliament in Georgia's capital Tbilisi. It came to violent riots!

This article will be updated with current developments!
Last update 21 June 2019 10:20 pm WET

On 20 June 2019, in Tbilisi, Georgia, there were serious riots between demonstrators and the police.
Thousands of protesters tried on Thursday to storm the parliament in Georgia's capital Tbilisi. It came to violent riots! The police use completely exaggerated force and injured according to previous estimates at least 70 people heavily.

The trigger for the protests was the speech of a Russian deputy in the Georgian parliament.
To the question of whether he was feeling discomfort due to being in the country, 20 % of which is occupied by Russia, Gavrilov replied that he feels no discomfort.
“I do not have any discomfort, I'm very happy that I'm in my homeland,"the member of the Russian Duma Sergei Gavrilov said.
The Russian deputy in the Chairman’s chair of the Parliament of Georgia. The President of the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy, Sergei Gavrilov, a deputy of the Russian Duma from the Communist Party, is leading the session from the Chairman’s chair in the Parliament of Georgia on the 20th of June. Deputy Chairperson Tamar Chugoshvili about the Assembly
“I am devastated by seeing the Russian deputy in the Chairman’s chair”, - Deputy Chairperson of the Parliament of Georgia, Tamar Chugoshvili, says in her statement posted on Facebook.
"There is nothing harder for me to see than this. I do not know what to say. Every day I think about how to turn the Parliament into a full state institution. I am just devastated by seeing the Russian deputy in the Chairman’s chair", - Tamar Chugoshvili said.

Fearing Russia's increasing influence, thousands of protesters in Georgia have unsuccessfully tried to storm parliament in the capital of Tbilisi. Subsequently, there were violent clashes with the police. The security forces locked the building and used tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons. Thus, the demonstrators failed to penetrate into the parliament.

Here you can see hundreds of pictures and videos on our Facebook page. We have our own people on on the ground in Tbilisi and therefore supply exclusive material. Our local man was also witness to various incidents, among other things, a journalist's arm was shot through with a rubber bullet and he himself was tracked by police with batons on the arm and on the back.

Another important fact in this conflict is that the Georgians have fought hard for their freedom from the former Communist Soviet Union. They know what Liberty means!

21 of June 2019 10:00am WET
The demonstrators call for the resignation of Speaker of Parliament Irakli Kobachidse.

21 of June 13:30 am WET
Today from 5:00 pm WET new protests are expected in front of the parliament in Tbilisi. Student organisations have called to participate.

New pictures by Tbel Abuseridze on our Facebook page

As is often the case with such events, the situation is currently a bit confusing and many rumors are going around, but we try to get you new and secured information.

21 of June 4:15pm MET
On the afternoon of June 21, Georgian Parliament Speaker Irakli Kobakhidze announced his resignation.
New protests have been announced for later this evening on June 21 with the following requirements:

1. The resignation of the Minister of Internal Affairs Giorgi Gakharia. The majority of the public believes that the police used force disproportionate given the circumstances against the protesters.

2. The dissolution of the parliament and the holding of early elections by a proportional system

Here you can find opinions of experts:

Ghia Nodia, Chairman of the Caucasus Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development:
Gia Khukhashvili; Georgian analyst, former advisor to the informal leader of Georgia, Bidzina Ivanishvili
Tornike Sharashenidze, a specialist in politics & international relations, professor of GIPA

21 of June update 5:40pm MET

Russia "argues" on whataboutism level
“Russian lawmaker demands “official apology” from Tbilisi”
“The Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of Orthodoxy, which was long ago scheduled in Tbilisi, is obviously used by the radical part of the opposition to arrange outrages in the streets,” State Secretary, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation (RF) Grigory Karasin said. According to Karasin, the incident is evidence that the radical part of the politicians in Georgia is “emotionally charged”, including preventing the normalization of relations between Moscow and Tbilisi.

Watch Live from Tbilisi, Georgia
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21 of June 2019 10:25pm WET
Putin bans flights to Georgia, orders return of Russian citizens to homeland
Putin ordered cessation of flights after a date of July 8 while also tasking his government with returning Russian citizens on temporary stay in Georgia and prohibiting Russian tour agencies from organising travels to the country.