Opposition blocks main streets of Georgia's capital

The opposition, which is holding a rally in Tbilisi, has split into parts and blocked strategic streets of the capital of Georgia. The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was informed about it by Paata Zakareishvili, a political scientist and human rights activist, who is present at the rally.

"When the information briefing began, the leaders of the opposition made a decision to expand the area of the rally and set up three centres of opposition, in order to block and paralyse the city. From where the central rally is held - the Rustaveli Avenue - part of the protesters will go to the east of Tbilisi, and another part - to the west," said Mr Zakareishvili.

Rallies are also held near the building of the Public Broadcaster of Georgia (PBG) and at the President's residence. The Kostavy Street is blocked.

According to journalist Irakliy Berulava, as of 7 p.m., the square at the building of the Parliament of Georgia houses some 15 hundred persons at most. The protesters moved away to block streets. The police were ordered to be on the alert.

According to Paata Zakareishvili, President of Georgia Mikhail Saakashvili is pursuing the policy of "exhausting" the rally, aimed at weakening the opposition's activity, to force the rally "somehow come to an end by itself."

Irakliy Berulava, while telling the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent about what happened in the square at the Georgian Parliament after 4 p.m., i.e., upon expiry of the deadline of the ultimatum presented to Saakashvili, explained: "People are dancing and singing, right at the Parliament. The information rally continues but nothing happens, just flubdub, nothing particular."

Some time ago, information was spread among the protesters that "someone was beaten."

Soso Papuashvili, advocate of the organization named "Human Rights" in Tbilisi, who is holding, for the second day already, the monitoring of human rights violations at the rally, explained: "We've registered no violations at the rally, at least in Tbilisi, in the vicinity of the Parliament. Everything was peaceful, and the police behaved correctly. Here, everything is quiet."

"There was information about some hackneyed driver, but nobody can confirm it, at least, I saw nobody able to confirm it. There were some tense moments; it seems that between governmental officials dressed as ordinary citizens and protesters. But there are no beaten persons," said Mr Papuashvili.