“Stop bombing Russia”

Wednesday, August 13, 2008 at 5:08 am

A dozen angry Georgians took on street and protested on Monday (August 11) to Russian Embassy in Beijing, demanding Russia to stop the military operation towards its small, former Soviet neighbour.

Russian troops and armour on Monday (August 11) pushed into the Georgian separatist regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, a small pro-Russian province which broke away from Georgia in the 1990s. Georgian forces shelled the Russian-held capital of South Ossetia in a worsening of the crisis which erupted last week.

About 15 Georgians, draping their national flags and wearing a band reading “Stop Russia”, gathered in front of the Russian Embassy and chanted “Stop bombing our country”.

George S. Sartannill, one of the organisers of the protest, says the move is to let the world be aware of what is happening in Georgia.

“Stop bombing Georgia, you know. The world should know what’s going on. China should know what’s going on. Every country should know what’s going on right now in Georgia. And they had better stop it now. We come in peace and every Georgian is feeling the pain right now. So every Georgian has to stand up and every body has to stand up for peace, said Sartannill, a student in Beijing.

Athletes from Georgia should not even compete in the Games while their home is bombed, the protester said.

“The Georgian athletes, do you think they could compete now, after they know their families are in danger? You expect them to compete? They didn’t want to compete. And they refused to compete. But the president requested that they compete,” he said.

Earlier, a Georgian competitor embraced her Russian rival after they both won medals, hoping to show that an escalating conflict between their two nations will not spoil the sporting spirit at the games.

Georgia’s Nino Salukvadze, who took bronze in the 10 metres air pistol, hugged Russia’s Natalia Paderina, who won the silver, on the podium after receiving their medals.

Relations between Russia and Georgia have been at a low ebb because of Georgian President Saakashvili’s pro-western policies and his drive to take his country into the NATO alliance — anathema to Moscow.

Russia ordered in soldiers and bombed Georgian targets after Tbilisi attempted on Thursday evening to retake South Ossetia.

The United States, Georgia’s main ally, condemned Moscow’s military action and warned that any further escalation could have a “significant, long-term impact” on relations.

(Agencies)

( This post is from an independent writer. The opinions and views expressed herein are those of the author and are not endorsed by APakistanNews.Com.)

“Stop bombing Russia”

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