Georgia's parliament likes Russia more America

More people in Georgia's parliament don’t agree with President Mikhail Saakashvili's pro-Western course. Opposition Justice party organized demonstration on this subject. Officials protest and demand president's resignation.

Photo: Georgia's parliament likes Russia more America

Georgia's parliament likes Russia more America

Anti-Soros activists accuse the foundation of U.S. billionaire philanthropist George Soros of funding the 2003 Rose Revolution that brought Saakashvili to power.

"We won't allow the United States to turn Georgia into its colony," said Temur Zhorzholiani, the leader of the Conservative Monarchist Party. "Russia is next door, while America is across the ocean. Why should we have a friend across the ocean and quarrel with our neighbor?"

Saakashvili has sought to reduce Russian influence and move his Caucasus Mountain nation toward closer integration with the United States and the West. He frequently rails against Moscow, accusing it of interfering with Georgian internal affairs.

Participants in the protest called for Saakashvili's resignation and early presidential and parliamentary elections. Zhorzholiani said that the opposition would pursue constitutional means to achieve its goals.

Demonstrators included backers of former State Security Minister Igor Giorgadze, who is wanted in Georgia for alleged involvement in an assassination attempt against Saakashvili's predecessor, Eduard Shevardnadze. Senior Russian officials have recently said Giorgadze could be granted political asylum, a move that would further roil already testy relations between Moscow and Tbilisi, reports the AP.

N.U.