Messenger.ge, Georgia
Friday, April 1, 2005, #059 (0833)
News in brief:
Protests against Russian base withdrawal
There were protests in Batumi and Akhalkalaki on Thursday against the
Georgian government’s efforts to have Russia withdraw its military bases
from the regions, according to Black Sea Press.
In Batumi some 300 supporters of the leader of the United Communist Party
Panteleimon Giorgadze held a rally calling for the Russian base there to
stay, while in Akhalkalaki 500 demonstrators called for the base there to
remain.
Governor of Samtskhe-Javakheti Giorgi Khachidze said that the Akhalkalaki
rally was organized by the youth organization “Jemi,” which brings together
Armenian youth living in the region.
He noted that a similar rally was held on March 13, and that he had met with
the organizers of the rally, who also demanded that a passport office be
opened in Akhalkalaki, as the local dwellers had to go to other regions to
receive an identification card or a passport.
He said that a passport office had already been opened in Akhalkalaki.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress