rally_against_russian_occupation_2013-10-18

People rallied in Telavi (pictured) and 24 other places against Russia’s policy toward Georgia. (Interpressnews.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–Rallies against the ‘creeping occupation’ and the Sochi Winter Olympics continue in Georgia. Saturday, there were protests in 25 different cities and towns all over the country.

Despite the rain, youth protested in Batumi, a city on the Black Sea shores, in the evening. Participants came with banners shouting ‘No to Sochi’s bloody Olympics.’ Youth called on the government to change its decision to take part in the Olympics.

A rally was also held in Telavi, where students and others gathered at the theater and symbolically put up barbed wire, which Russian soldiers have recently placed around a de facto border with the region South Ossetia. They also brought posters that said ‘No to Sochi Olympics! No to Occupation.’

Another gathering took place in Kutaisi, where participants said that Georgia’s participation in the Olympics will be a shame. It was raining in Kutaisi as well, so participants were holding umbrellas and posters together in the cold weather. “NATO is our choice” one of the posters read.

Rallies were also held in Sagarejo, Tkibuli, Telavi, Khobi, Zugdidi, Rustavi and Gori.

Participants called on people to be more active and sign a petition against Georgia’s participation in the Olympics. The petition has so far gathered over 25 000 signatures.