Tbilisi clashes delay president’s speech

Georgia’s president called for urgent talks with Bidzina Ivanishvili, the billionaire prime minister, after violent clashes on the 8 February 2013 in the capital delayed Mikheil Saakashvili’s state of the nation address.

The violence in Tbilisi, which left at least five people injured, marked a sharp escalation of the feud between the two men and their supporters since Mr Ivanishvili’s opposition coalition won a surprise electoral victory over Mr Saakashvili’s party in October 2013.

The heightened tensions have prompted fears inside and outside the country that Georgia’s fragile democracy might unravel.

ESO: Background information: Georgian parliamentary election, 2012 http://www.europeansources.info/record/georgian-parliamentary-election-2012/

ESO: Background information: Georgia’s president asks premier for talks http://www.europeansources.info/record/georgias-president-asks-premier-for-talks/

EU: EEAS: Countries: The EU's relations with Georgia http://eeas.europa.eu/georgia/index_en.htm

EU: EEAS: Press Release, A74/13: Joint Statement by the spokespersons of EU High Representative Catherine Ashton and Commissioner Štefan Füle on developments in Georgia http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_Data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/135386.pdf

BBC News, 08.02.13: Protesters in Georgia harry Saakashvili over speech http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21385546

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