Georgian opposition leader arrested, protesters set up camp
Nika Melia, head of the United National Movement speaks to a journalist in Tbilisi, Georgia, Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021. Police in Georgia have stormed the headquarters of the country's main opposition party and arrested its leader. (AP Photo/Zurab Tsertsvadze)TBILISI โ Demonstrators set up tents outside Georgia's parliament building and blocked the capitalโs main avenue Tuesday to protest the arrest of the leader of the country's main opposition party. The demonstration came hours after police stormed the headquarters of the United National Movement and arrested its chairman, lawmaker Nika Melia. Both Georgian Dream and United National Movement are pro-Western and have the stated goals of establishing better relations with possible eventual membership in NATO and the European Union.
Ex-Soviet republic Georgia's parliament appoints new premier
Georgian Dream party Prime minister nominee Irakli Garibashvili speaks at the Georgian Parliament in Tbilisi, Georgia, Monday, Feb. 22, 2021. The parliament in ex-Soviet nation Georgia has voted to appoint a new prime minister and Cabinet after Giorgi Gakharia resigned last week. (AP Photo/Shakh Aivazov)TBILISI โ The parliament in ex-Soviet nation Georgia has voted Monday evening to appoint a new prime minister and Cabinet after Giorgi Gakharia resigned last week over a court ruling to arrest the top opposition politician. Garibashvili, 38, served as the countryโs prime minister between 2013 and 2015 and was the defense minister in Gakharia's Cabinet. They (opposition) do not want early elections, fair elections, or democratic elections.