Clipmarks | Charolastra's 'tbilisi' clips

The war that Georgia's cavalier Prince Charming had to have

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 15:47:48 GMT

clipped by: Charolastra

Clip Source: www.theage.com.au

Recovering the separatist regions is a defining goal for Saakashvili, writes Tara Bahrampour in Tbilisi.

A boy attends a rally in Tbilisi

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 19:35:00 GMT

clipped by: Charolastra

Clip Source: www.alertnet.org

A boy attends a rally in Tbilisi August 12, 2008. At least 150,000 protesters cheered President Mikheil Saakashvili outside Georgia's parliament on Tuesday, backing him in Georgia's confrontation with Russia over the breakaway region of South Ossetia. REUTERS/David Mdzinarishvili (GEORGIA)
REUTERS/DAVID MDZINARISHVILI

Demonstrators sit next to a poster depicting Russian Prime Minister Putin during a rally in Tbilisi

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 19:34:30 GMT

clipped by: Charolastra

Clip Source: www.alertnet.org

Demonstrators sit next to a poster depicting Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in the uniform of a revolutionary soldier during a rally in Tbilisi August 12, 2008. At least 150,000 protesters cheered President Mikheil Saakashvili outside Georgia's parliament on Tuesday, backing him in Georgia's confrontation with Russia over the breakaway region of South Ossetia. REUTERS/David Mdzinarishvili (GEORGIA)
REUTERS/DAVID MDZINARISHVILI

Saakashvili Leaves Opponents Little Hope

Fri, 09 Nov 2007 22:36:15 GMT

clipped by: Charolastra

Clip Source: ap.google.com

TBILISI, Georgia (AP) — The U.S.-backed leader of Georgia appears to have faced down the worst crisis of his presidency: defusing a standoff with the opposition by calling an early election while maintaining a state of emergency that has silenced dissent.

Criticized at home and abroad for a violent crackdown on anti-government protesters this week, President Mikhail Saakashvili cast the early election as a concession.

But the Jan. 5 poll date leaves the fractured opposition little time to capitalize on a groundswell of public discontent. And two opposition leaders who could have seriously challenged Saakashvili will be just a few months shy of the minimum campaign age of 35.

Along with his election announcement, Saakashvili also promised Thursday to quickly lift the state of emergency. But Friday he easily won parliamentary approval to extend it for up to 15 days. This will keep nongovernment television news off the air, making it harder for the opposition to mount an effective campaign.

Tags: saakashvili, president, opponents

Georgian parliament approves state of emergency

Fri, 09 Nov 2007 22:32:03 GMT

clipped by: Charolastra

Clip Source: afp.google.com

TBILISI (AFP) — Georgia's parliament on Friday approved President Mikheil Saakashvili's 15-day state of emergency, banning rallies and independent newscasts following violent clashes in Tbilisi.

But a senior official in the presidential office said emergency rule would be lifted much sooner.

Parliament's endorsement, which defied international calls for emergency rule to be lifted, allows the restrictions on civil and press freedoms to remain in place until November 22.

A US State Department spokesman said Friday it was sending Matthew Bryza, deputy assistant secretary for European and Eurasian affairs, to Georgia this weekend to provide US "views and counsel".

Then on Thursday Saakashvili called a snap presidential poll for January 5 and promised the state of emergency would be lifted within days. He also said a referendum would be held to set a date for parliamentary elections.

Tags: georgia, parliament, state, emergency

Emergency in Georgia after unrest

Thu, 08 Nov 2007 10:36:07 GMT

clipped by: Charolastra

Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

All demonstrations are banned and only state television can broadcast news.

President Mikhail Saakashvili imposed the 15-day emergency after six days of opposition rallies, saying "Russian special services" were behind unrest.

The US later called for calm and for the Georgian government and opposition leaders to negotiate.

The EU foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, urged restraint from both sides, saying "political differences should be resolved within the democratic institutions".

The state of emergency was initially announced in Tbilisi for 48 hours, but that was later extended to the whole country for 15 days.

Imedi TV, which has broadcast statements by opposition leaders, stopped broadcasting on Wednesday, after riot police entered its premises.

Tags: emergency, georgia, unrest

Georgia under state of emergency

Thu, 08 Nov 2007 10:33:30 GMT

clipped by: Charolastra

Clip Source: www.iol.co.za

Tbilisi - Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili imposed a 15-day state of emergency after clashes between police and anti-government protesters he accuses Russia of backing.

Part of the centre of Tbilisi was cordoned off on Thursday after the pro-Western Saakashvili restricted public gatherings and the private media following a day of running battles between police and protesters calling for the president's resignation.

Police fired tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannon at the protesters and 486 people were hospitalised after Wednesday's clashes, the health ministry said.

Saakashvili's government also expelled several Russian diplomats. Russia's Interfax news agency said three diplomats would be ordered out.

Tags: georgia, state of emergency

EU to send special envoy to Georgia

Thu, 08 Nov 2007 10:31:20 GMT

clipped by: Charolastra

Clip Source: www.reuters.com

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union is sending a special envoy to Georgia to consult on the situation there after mass anti-government protests turned violent on Wednesday, an EU spokeswoman said.

"The High Representative has asked Peter Semneby to travel to Tbilisi as soon as possible. He will go their and meet all the relevant parties," a spokeswoman for EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said.

Semneby, a former Swedish diplomat, is the EU's special representative to the south Caucasus region.

Separately, NATO said it was watching the situation closely and called for the rule of law to be respected in the country, which is seeking membership of the military alliance.

In Tbilisi, riot police fired tear gas and water cannon in repeated clashes with Georgian opposition protesters calling for President Mikhail Saakashvili's resignation.

Tags: eu, envoy, georgia

Tear gas, water cannon used by police on protestors in Georgia

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 12:06:03 GMT

clipped by: Charolastra

Clip Source: www.forbes.com

TBILISI (Thomson Financial) - Georgian riot police used tear gas and a water cannon to disperse thousands of anti-government protestors blocking the centre of the capital Tbilisi, an Agence France-Presse correspondent said.

Earlier, there were reports that Police in the Georgian capital were beating demonstrators as they came under a barrage of bottles, sticks and stones after trying to clamp down on a sixth day of anti-government protests.

Hundreds of police fought with several thousand protestors surging through police lines from a square outside parliament to block the city's main Rustaveli Avenue.

Tags: georgia, tbilisi, tear gas, water, police, opposition protestors

Riot police clash with protestors in Tbilisi

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 12:01:23 GMT

clipped by: Charolastra

Clip Source: www.rte.ie

Riot police in Georgia have used tear gas and water cannon to disperse thousands of anti-government protestors blocking the centre of the capital Tbilisi.

The assault by special forces wearing gas masks cleared several thousand demonstrators who had been occupying the central avenue outside parliament.

Police could be seen beating and punching protestors, but there were no immediate reports of serious injury.

The violence comes after six days of protests against President Mikheil Saakashvili, who came to power in the peaceful Rose Revolution in 2003, but is under growing pressure from opponents amid corruption allegations.

Tags: georgia, tbilisi, police, protestors

Georgia riot police charge protest

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 11:55:08 GMT

clipped by: Charolastra

Clip Source: ca.today.reuters.com

TBILISI (Reuters) - Georgian police fired tear gas and water cannon on Wednesday to break up a six-day protest calling on pro-U.S. President Mikhail Saakashvili to resign.

Riot police wearing gas masks and using batons and shields charged an area outside the parliament where around 3,000 demonstrators had gathered, chasing them through the streets.

A truck armed with a water cannon sprayed the protesters and police wearing body armor moved in formation down the streets firing tear gas.

The demonstrators fled, tripping over each other to escape the gas. Some could be seen being dragged bleeding into police cars. Ambulances sped through the streets, their sirens wailing.

Earlier opposition leaders had urged supporters to mass at 2 p.m. (1000 GMT) in force outside parliament, defying police moves in the morning to break up their six-day long protest.

Tags: georgia, police, demonstrants

Georgia cops use force on protests

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 11:53:00 GMT

clipped by: Charolastra

Clip Source: www.cnn.com

TBLISI, Georgia (CNN/AP) -- Georgian security forces fired tear gas and water cannons at opposition supporters to disperse their protests outside the Georgian Parliament in Tibilisi Wednesday morning, according to Georgian television and other news agencies.

Georgian television broadcast live video of the protest Wednesday.

Demonstrations involving thousands of people over the last several days have called for the resignation of Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili.

Earlier Wednesday police had evicted around 100 protestors from a site, in front of the country's parliament, which has attracted thousands of demonstrators during the past week, The Associated Press quoted key opposition member Ivlian Khaindrava as saying. But protesters came back to the site only hours later, the agency added, before police moved in.

Tags: georgia, tbilisi, demonstration, protests

Tear gas used on Georgia protest

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 11:42:06 GMT

clipped by: Charolastra
clipper's remarks: Georgian police have used tear gas and water cannon to dispel opposition demonstrators staging a sixth day of protests in the capital, Tbilisi.

Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

Several people were injured during the clash on the city's main street in front of parliament.

The protesters had been regrouping after an earlier police action forced them off the street.

President Mikhail Saakashvili has rejected the protesters' accusations of corruption and says he will not quit.

Police used tear gas and water cannon after thousands of protesters tried to reclaim Rustaveli Avenue - Tbilisi's main thoroughfare.

Tags: georgia, tbilisi, demonstration, tear gas

2 ნოემბერი: Reloaded

Sat, 03 Nov 2007 12:05:08 GMT

clipped by: Charolastra

Clip Source: rocko.ge

როგორც იქნა მოვიდა ორი ნოემბერი! და რა მერე? არც არაფერი…
კაცობრიობის ისტორიაში ჩატარებულ აქციათა შორის ყველაზე უაზრო და უშედეგო. აქცია, რომელსაც არ ჰქონდა კონკრეტული მიზანი და არავინ იცოდა, რას მოითხოვდა. ზოგი იძახდა, პრეზიდენტის გადაყენებისთვის ვართ აქო, ზოგის თქმით, მთავრობის საწინააღმდეგო არ იყო ეს აქცია, უბრალოდ დიალოგს ითხოვდნენ, ზოგი - სახელმწიფო სამსახურიდან გათავისუფლებას აპროტესტებდა, ზოგი კი - პენსიის სიმცირეს.

დროშები ბევრი იყო, თუმცა საქართველოსი - არცერთი :)

რა დროშები აღარ ფრიალებს!… იაპონია, შვეიცარია, ჯვრიანები, ბორჯღალოიანები… მაგრამ საქართველოსი - არცერთი. ის ხომ მიშას დროშაა, ჩვენი არაა!…

Tags: demonstration, georgia, opposition, tbilisi

2 ნოემბერი: Reloaded

Sat, 03 Nov 2007 11:59:21 GMT

clipped by: Charolastra

Clip Source: rocko.ge

დროშები ბევრი იყო, თუმცა საქართველოსი - არცერთი :)

Tags: google, demonstration, opposition, tbilisi