Georgian opposition protests increasing in Tbilisi

TBILISI, April 22

The Georgian opposition is beefing up its protests in the country’s capital as supporters began arriving on Wednesday in Tbilisi from other Georgian regions.

Meanwhile, the opposition has erected around 140 wooden jail cells along Tbilisi’s central street to symbolize Georgia having turned into a police state. Protesters are also gathered at the State Chancellery and parliament building, the presidential residence and state television headquarters.

The first wooden cells were erected near the presidential residence and the central television broadcasting building and several side streets have been blocked as part of the city-wide campaign. 

Georgia’s opposition has been holding virtual round-the-clock protests since April 9 demanding President Mikheil Saakashvili step down.

Saakashvili’s opponents blame him for dragging the country into a war with Russia over South Ossetia last August, resulting in the permanent split from Georgia of the province, along with another former republic, Abkhazia.

He also faces criticism for failure to carry out democratic reforms promised after the 2003 “Rose Revolution” that brought him to power.