Tens of thousands of opposition supporters on Saturday rallied in Tbilisi demanding President Mikheil Saakashvili early resignation, while in the Black Sea port of Batumi protestors attempted to storm into a television building.
The opposition accuses pro-Western Saakashvili of corruption and a crackdown on democratic reforms.
“This is the beginning of decisive fight for liberation of Georgia from Saakashvili,” former world chess champion and opposition leader Nona Gaprindashvili told a rally in Tbilisi, adding that the protests would last for five days.
“We are protesting about neo Bolshevism in this country. We’re living in a neo-Bolshevik country right now. All talks about democracy are just talks and a facade. We are fighting for democracy, for justice, for free and fair elections,” parliamentary ex-speaker Nino Burdzhanadze, who is also a member of the leadership of the People’s Assembly opposition party, said.
A one more protest broke out in Batumi. Angered protesters tried to storm the building of a public broadcaster, but police stopped them.
Saakashvili, 43, rose to power in the so-called Rose Revolution in 2003. He has been under pressure since 2007, when protests turned violent as opponents accused him of political persecution and failing to improve living standards.
Earlier in the day, Saakashvili arrived in Hungary with an official visit.
TBILISI, May 21 (RIA Novosti)