Thousands of protesters are trying to storm the parliament building in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi and are calling for the government's resignation.
Police turned back an attempt by the crowd to storm the building Thursday evening, then pushed back another surge about two hours later. Some demonstrators were seen hoisting shields that apparently had been seized from riot police.
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Thousands of protesters are trying to storm the parliament building in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi and are calling for the government's resignation.
Gavrilov has supported support for independence for the Georgian breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, over which Georgia lost control in a 2008 war with Russia. He is also a supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin, a figure despised by many Georgians.
In this image from video, Protesters face riot police outside the parliament building in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi Thursday June 20, 2019. Some thousands of protesters have tried to storm the parliament building in Tbilisi and are calling for the government's resignation. (AP Photo)
Police try to block opposition demonstrators gathered in front of Georgian Parliament to call for the resignation of the speaker of the Georgian Parliament in Tbilisi, Georgia, Thursday, June 20, 2019. Thousands of protesters have tried to storm the parliament building in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi and are calling for the government's resignation.(AP PhotoShakh Aivazov)
Opposition demonstrators gather in front of Georgian Parliament to call for the resignation of the speaker of the Georgian Parliament in Tbilisi, Georgia, Thursday, June 20, 2019. Thousands of protesters have tried to storm the parliament building in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi and are calling for the government's resignation.(AP PhotoShakh Aivazov)
The unrest was sparked by the appearance Thursday of Russian legislator Sergei Gavrilov in the building as part of an assembly of legislators from Orthodox Christian countries.
In this image from video, some thousands of protesters gather outside the parliament building in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi Thursday June 20, 2019. Some thousands of protesters have tried to storm the parliament building in Tbilisi and are calling for the government's resignation. (AP Photo)
Gavrilov has supported support for independence for the Georgian breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, over which Georgia lost control in a 2008 war with Russia. He is also a supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin, a figure despised by many Georgians.
Georgia and Russia broke diplomatic relations after the war and although steps have been made to restore normal relations, animosity toward Russia is strong and many Georgians resent any sort of official visit by Russians.
The visit of the Russian delegation of the Orthodox assembly already had prompted complaints, but the anger turned into a street protest after Gavrilov sat in the chair of the Georgian parliament speaker during a session of the assembly.
In this image from video, some thousands of protesters gather outside the parliament building in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi Thursday June 20, 2019. Some thousands of protesters have tried to storm the Georgia parliament building in Tbilisi and are calling for the government's resignation. (AP Photo)
In this image from video, Protesters face riot police outside the parliament building in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi Thursday June 20, 2019. Some thousands of protesters have tried to storm the parliament building in Tbilisi and are calling for the government's resignation. (AP Photo)
Police try to block opposition demonstrators gathered in front of Georgian Parliament to call for the resignation of the speaker of the Georgian Parliament in Tbilisi, Georgia, Thursday, June 20, 2019. Thousands of protesters have tried to storm the parliament building in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi and are calling for the government's resignation.(AP PhotoShakh Aivazov)
Opposition demonstrators gather in front of Georgian Parliament to call for the resignation of the speaker of the Georgian Parliament in Tbilisi, Georgia, Thursday, June 20, 2019. Thousands of protesters have tried to storm the parliament building in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi and are calling for the government's resignation.(AP PhotoShakh Aivazov)