Parliament spring session closes amid Tbilisi protests
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The 2019 spring session of the Parliament of Georgia has ended today.
The new speaker Archil Talakvadze stated that Georgia will never be ‘a hostage of aggression.’
He said political controversy is absolutely acceptable but it should not affect the country.
We do not compromise at the expense of our national interests, especially when it comes to the occupation of the Georgian regions,” Talakvadze said.
He added that remaining far from aggression is of the utmost significance for Georgia’s development and security.
Archil Talakvadze said it is very significant for Georgia to maintain safe country status in the region.
Tbilisi protest rally. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
Per Georgian legislation, the spring session closes on the last Friday of June in general, but the institution may continue functioning in the format of extra sessions.
The autumn session will open on the first Tuesday of September.
The closing day was preceded by turbulent events in Tbilisi.
Protests broke out on June 20 when Russian MP Sergey Gavrilov occupied the parliamentary speaker’s chair to address the audience participating in the 26th Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy.
The protest rallies led to clashes between riot police and people that was followed by the resignation of Georgian Parliamentary Speaker Irakli Kobakhidze.
Archil Talakvadze, 36, a leader of the Georgian Dream ruling party majority, has been elected a new chairperson of the legislative body after the resignation of Irakli Kobakhidze on June 21.
Composed again largely of youth, the demonstrators gathered in front of the parliament of Georgia on the fifth consecutive day. Monday's peaceful demonstration ended at around 12 a.m. with the protesters marching around the parliament of Georgia holding hands and singing the national anthem. Calling everyone to rejoin them every day at 7 p.m. on Rustaveli Avenue in central Tbilisi, the organisers say their other demands still need to be fulfilled.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Irakli Kobakhidze has resigned amid public protests after a Russian MP addressed the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy from the chair of the Georgian parliament speaker in Tbilisi yesterday.
Georgian opposition MPs have interrupted the 26th Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (IAO) after a Russian MP and president of the assembly, Sergey Gavrilov addressed the audience from the Georgian parliamentary speaker’s chair earlier today.