Blockade of Russian Embassy in Tbilisi Lifted

The blockade of the Russian embassy in Tbilisi has been lifted, said chairman of the Georgian parliament Nino Burdzhanadze at a press conference in Moscow yesterday.

She hopes that the situation "around the diplomatic mission will be settled", she said.

On Wednesday, the Russian Foreign Ministry declared that the anti-Russian rallies in front of the Russian embassy in Tbilisi had obviously been "commissioned and aimed at disrupting Russian-Georgian relations." The rallies in front of the Russian embassy have been going on for several days. The protesters have posted banners with hostile mottoes, the Russian Foreign Ministry's information and press department reported.

"Taking advantage of the authorities' neglect", they "block the entrance to and exit from the embassy, and hinder its normal activities". "Sometimes, the demonstrators become openly aggressive, they shout not only obscene slogans, but also threats against Russia and Russian representatives in Tbilisi," the ministry pointed out.

At the same time, "despite the embassy's demands, the local law-enforcement bodies have not taken any steps to stop the protesters," the ministry emphasised.

"This results in a real threat to the security of the Russian diplomatic mission and its employees," it believes.

"Responsibility for the consequences of this fully rests with the Georgian side," Moscow emphasis ed.