Three billboards outside Russian embassy, Tbilisi. Photos from the protest
“It was Russia who started the war! Say no to Russian aggression and occupation!” – one of many such slogans chanted outside the former Russian embassy in Tbilisi. A group of people gathered there to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the 2008 war and to protest against the Kremlin’s policy.
“Russia is the occupier! Stop Russia!” the rally participants chanted.
They said that Russia has fought against Georgia as a sovereign entity for centuries and that the August war was a continuation of this fight.
The rally participants installed barbed wire around the area in reference to what has been called the ‘borderisation’ process in the conflict zone.
They also brought three red billboards to the rally.
“Russia kills. And still no action? How come?” the inscription on the billboards read. This kind of protest became an international symbol of fighting against injustice after the movie Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri was released.
Students, politicians, NGO representatives and the general public took part in the protest.
Some of them handed out leaflets and stickers saying, in Georgian and English, ‘Russia is the occupier’.
They also carried posters with caricatures of Russian president Vladimir Putin.
