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Georgian police use teargas on crowd as Russian lawmaker visits parliament Georgian police fire teargas as Russian's visit to parliament sparks protests
(31 minutes later)
Georgian police have fired teargas to disperse thousands of protesters who attempted to storm the country’s parliament after a Russian lawmaker addressed the assembly from the speaker’s seat, causing uproar in Tbilisi.Georgian police have fired teargas to disperse thousands of protesters who attempted to storm the country’s parliament after a Russian lawmaker addressed the assembly from the speaker’s seat, causing uproar in Tbilisi.
Around midnight on Thursday police fired teargas into the crowd. It stopped firing after many of the protesters broke away and left the area.Around midnight on Thursday police fired teargas into the crowd. It stopped firing after many of the protesters broke away and left the area.
About 10,000 protesters had gathered outside parliament earlier. Some succeeded in breaking riot police cordons to enter the parliament courtyard. They were pushed back by police but continued to try to enter the building.About 10,000 protesters had gathered outside parliament earlier. Some succeeded in breaking riot police cordons to enter the parliament courtyard. They were pushed back by police but continued to try to enter the building.
Around 3,000 protesters remained outside parliament after the teargas was fired, an AFP reporter at the scene said.Around 3,000 protesters remained outside parliament after the teargas was fired, an AFP reporter at the scene said.
Earlier, tens of thousands rallied in the streets of central Tbilisi, demanding speaker Irakli Kobakhidze step down after the speech by the Russian lawmaker Sergei Gavrilov from his seat.Earlier, tens of thousands rallied in the streets of central Tbilisi, demanding speaker Irakli Kobakhidze step down after the speech by the Russian lawmaker Sergei Gavrilov from his seat.
Gavrilov’s address was made during an annual meeting of the Inter-parliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (IAO), a forum of lawmakers from predominantly Orthodox countries.Gavrilov’s address was made during an annual meeting of the Inter-parliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (IAO), a forum of lawmakers from predominantly Orthodox countries.
Russian expansion: 'I went to bed in Georgia – and woke up in South Ossetia'Russian expansion: 'I went to bed in Georgia – and woke up in South Ossetia'
The Russian MP’s presence in fiercely pro-western Georgia’s parliament prompted outrage in the ex-Soviet nation which in 2008 fought and lost a brief but bloody war with Moscow over the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.The Russian MP’s presence in fiercely pro-western Georgia’s parliament prompted outrage in the ex-Soviet nation which in 2008 fought and lost a brief but bloody war with Moscow over the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
A group of Georgian opposition lawmakers demanded the Russian delegation leave the parliament’s plenary chamber.A group of Georgian opposition lawmakers demanded the Russian delegation leave the parliament’s plenary chamber.
Georgian oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili – widely believed to be calling the shots in Georgia as the leader of his ruling Georgian Dream party – said in a statement he “fully shares the sincere outrage of the Georgian citizens”.Georgian oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili – widely believed to be calling the shots in Georgia as the leader of his ruling Georgian Dream party – said in a statement he “fully shares the sincere outrage of the Georgian citizens”.
“It is unacceptable that a representative of the occupier country chairs a forum in the Georgian parliament,” Ivanishvili said.“It is unacceptable that a representative of the occupier country chairs a forum in the Georgian parliament,” Ivanishvili said.
He added he had told speaker Kobakhidze, to “immediately suspend” the IAO session.He added he had told speaker Kobakhidze, to “immediately suspend” the IAO session.
Headquartered in Athens, the IAO is a permanent, international forum of MPs from predominantly Orthodox-Christian countries.Headquartered in Athens, the IAO is a permanent, international forum of MPs from predominantly Orthodox-Christian countries.
Georgia and its Soviet-era master Russia have long been at loggerheads over Tbilisi’s bid to join the European Union and Nato, with the spiralling confrontation culminating in an all-out war on 8 August 2008.Georgia and its Soviet-era master Russia have long been at loggerheads over Tbilisi’s bid to join the European Union and Nato, with the spiralling confrontation culminating in an all-out war on 8 August 2008.
The Russian army swept into Georgia – bombing targets and occupying large swathes of territory – after Tbilisi launched a large-scale military operation against South Ossetian separatist forces who had been shelling Georgian villages.The Russian army swept into Georgia – bombing targets and occupying large swathes of territory – after Tbilisi launched a large-scale military operation against South Ossetian separatist forces who had been shelling Georgian villages.
Over just five days, Russia defeated Georgia’s small military and the hostilities ended with a ceasefire mediated by France’s then-president Nicolas Sarkozy, who at the time held the EU’s rotating presidency. Over just five days, Russia defeated Georgia’s small military and the hostilities ended with a ceasefire mediated by France’s then president, Nicolas Sarkozy, who at the time held the EU’s rotating presidency.
After the war, which claimed the lives of hundreds of soldiers and civilians from both sides, Moscow recognised South Ossetia and another separatist enclave, Abkhazia, as independent states where it then stationed permanent military bases.After the war, which claimed the lives of hundreds of soldiers and civilians from both sides, Moscow recognised South Ossetia and another separatist enclave, Abkhazia, as independent states where it then stationed permanent military bases.
Tbilisi and its western allies have denounced the move as an “illegal military occupation”.Tbilisi and its western allies have denounced the move as an “illegal military occupation”.
The two regions constitute 20% of the country’s territory.The two regions constitute 20% of the country’s territory.

RussiaRussia
GeorgiaGeorgia
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