The New Year's tree lighting ceremony in the center of Tbilisi, which was to take place near the parliament building, was postponed indefinitely due to a protest. This is reported by Echo of the Caucasus, UNN reports.
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The mayor of the capital, Kakha Kaladze, accused the protesters of disrupting the event, noting that the holiday was intended primarily for children.
The opposition, which is demanding early parliamentary elections, occupied the square near the Christmas tree on the eve of the planned ceremony. As a result, the city authorities decided not to hold the event.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili, who visited the tree on Saturday, called for calm and suggested that the ceremony be moved to her residence to avoid conflicts. Mayor Kaladze criticized the proposal, saying that such actions undermine the preparations for the festivities.
The exact date of the main Christmas tree lighting remains unknown. The city council noted that the event will take place only after the protests in the central part of the city are over.
