Georgia hosts rally demanding to restore diplomatic relations with Russia

On May 28, in the centre of Tbilisi, organizations within the coalition "Eurasian Choice-Georgia" held a rally demanding to restore diplomatic relations with Russia.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that diplomatic relations between the countries were severed after in August 2008, Russia recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

"This is not a normal situation, when we have not official contacts with such a large neighbouring country. Without the restoration of diplomatic relations with Russia, Georgia will never be able to solve the problems of Abkhazia and South Ossetia," journalists were told by Archil Chkoidze, the leader of the coalition "Eurasian Choice-Georgia".

During the rally, members of the coalition clashed with supporters of the Euro-Atlantic choice of Georgia. Several female activists, who were holding in their hands flags of the EU, Ukraine and Georgia, called supporters of the restoration of diplomatic relations with Russia "traitors" and then pelted them with eggs, the "News-Georgia" reports.

Law enforcers managed to calm down the crowd, the "Echo of the Caucasus" reports.

See earlier reports:

Roundtable: Georgia is under threat of worsened relations with Russia because of situation in Ukraine, Georgia: Ombudsman asks authorities not to extradite natives of Northern Caucasus to Russia, In Georgia, pro-Russian NGOs intensify their activities; local experts explain that fact by Moscow's interference.