Georgians stage mass protest against Russia
September 2, 2008 TBILISI (AFP) - Waving giant European Union flags and angrily denouncing Russia’s leaders, huge crowds of Georgians filled the streets on Monday to protest against the Russian military presence in their country.
In what Georgian officials said was the biggest protest in the ex-Soviet republic’s history, tens of thousands formed a gigantic human chain through the capital Tbilisi and staged similar demonstrations nationwide.
The rally " which in Tbilisi took on a triumphant air " coincided with an emergency summit of EU leaders in Brussels intended to respond to Russia’s incursion into Georgia last month and occupation of swathes of territory.
The protestors carried the red-and-white Georgian flag and the flags of the European Union and the Western military alliance NATO, symbolising Tbilisi’s desire to form closer ties with the West.
“Georgia will win together with Europe,” President Mikheil Saakashvili told the crowds packed into Tbilisi’s Freedom Square in an address from the balcony of the town hall.
“Georgia is united as never before. There are one million people on the streets,” he proclaimed as Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy,” the anthem of Europe, boomed out from loudspeakers.
Protestors forming the human chain chanted “Sarkatevelos Gaumarjos!” (“Long Live Georgia”) while others drove past in hooting cars with Georgian flags flying from the windows.
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