The demonstrators
were denouncing the deal to be signed by Russia
and Abkhazia province as a step toward annexation of the Black Sea region by Moscow . Abkhazia has been
running its own affairs since a separatist war in the early 1990s, and Moscow bolstered its
military presence there following a 2008 Russian-Georgian war.
The proposed
agreement envisages the creation of joint Russian and Abkhazian military
forces.
The protesters
carried posters saying "Stop Russia!" and crossed out pictures of
Russian President Vladimir Putin. Many were carrying U.S. ,
EU and Ukrainian flags, the latter to back Ukraine
regarding Moscow 's decisions to annex Crimea and
support the pro-Russian insurgency in eastern Ukraine .
The rally of about
30,000 people was organized by former Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili's
United National Movement. It has been in opposition since losing the 2012
parliamentary election to the Georgian Dream party, which was founded by
billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, who made his fortune in Russia .
Saakashvili,
speaking to the rally via video link, accused government officials of taking
advice from Moscow
and failing to defend national interests, obediently "bowing their heads
and following the (Russian) bear." He said, "On the one side, there
is Georgia
that is fighting for its dignity, despite enormous pressure. But on the other
side there is Georgia
that is bowing its head and trailing the bear."
Prime Minister
Irakli Garibashvili sought to deflect such criticism by saying in a statement
on Friday that the government is aware of the threat posed by the
Russia-Abkhazia deal and has appealed to the West to help oppose it.
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