Government Accused in Masterminding Enguri Protests

(Tbilisi, January 22, Civil Georgia) – Members of several opposition parties accuse Georgian government and the president in masterminding the protests demanding Russian peacekeeper withdrawal.

According to the member of the “New Right” faction Irakli Batiashvili, President Shevardnadze uses the public protests to “check the Russian reaction.”

Mikheil Saakashvili, of “Movement for Democratic Reforms” argues that the government tries to avoid responsibility and manipulates displaced persons.

The protests at Enguri bridge – administrative border between breakaway Abkhazia and Georgia proper – demand withdrawal of the Russian peacekeeping forces. The protests were also staged at the Russian embassy in Tbilisi yesterday.

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