Azernews.Az

By Nazrin Gadimova

Georgian students held peaceful protests with the slogan "Stop the annexation" in seven cities across the country on October 13. Participants of the protests accused Russia in the occupation of Georgian territories.

About 500 students who lined up in a "human chains" gathered in Tbilisi, Rustavi, Telavi, Gori, Batumi, Kutaisi and Zugdidi during the protest actions.

One of the protesters said that the protest actions were planned in social networks and similar protests will be held in the future, and it is desirable that the wider population joined it it.

The main goal of the protests is to show the international community that the majority of the country protest over the occupation by Russia.

The situation at the administrative border of Tskhinvali region (the so-called South Ossetia) with the rest territory of Georgia has been in the spotlight of the Georgian authorities and the international community for several months.

Russian border guard officers have begun establishing barbwire along the de-facto border shortly after the conflict. The Georgian side claims that these actions violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia, as well as the principles of international law and the ceasefire agreement between Georgia and Russia dated August 12, 2008.

Georgia and Russia, its giant northern neighbor, have maintained no diplomatic relations since a brief war in 2008. Tbilisi broke off relations with Moscow in August 2008 when Moscow crushed a Georgian assault to reassert control over two rebel regions -- South Ossetia and Abkhazia -- and later recognized the regions. Georgia announced the two unrecognized republics as occupied territories in September 2008.