Provincial Authorities Hindered Opposition Rally

(Tbilisi, June 4 2003, Civil Georgia) – Reports say today that the National Movement opposition party was forced to retreat from Vani, western Georgia after the supporters of the local authorities blocked the way to the provincial center, where the opposition intended to hold a meeting.

MP Koba Davitashvili of National Movement accused the local authorities and the police in hindering to hold a peaceful protest rally in Vani.

The protest meeting aimed at the supporting the demands of the street protest of June 3 in Tbilisi, which demanded fair and democratic elections and disbanding of the existing election administrations.