Georgian immigrants protest outside Russian embassy
Demonstrators say concerned for family members left behind in war-torn country, call on Moscow to end bloodshed. 'We all have extended family in Georgia, we fear for their lives,' says protestor
Several dozen Israelis of Georgian descent staged a demonstration outside the Russian Embassy in Tel Aviv on Saturday afternoon to protest the recent bout of violence in the province of South Ossetia.
"They're killing, looting and destroying homes, they're blowing up our country," protest organizer Irqili Yacovshvili told Ynet.
The protest in Tel Aviv (Photo: Shaul Golan)
"The Russians are sowing devastation in Georgia and we want the world to hear of it, for demonstrations like this to take place outside Russia's embassies all over the world," he said.
Despite international media reports, Yacovshvili remains convinced Russia is to blame for the escalation:
"Everything they say in the press, that Georgia started the war, it's not true at all and we want that said as well. Georgia wanted to do everything peacefully, but the Russians dragged them into war by force."
Like most of the other protestors, he also has family in Georgia. "We all have extended family in Georgia, we fear for their lives and hope everything will be okay," he said.
