The Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, Irakli Kobakhidze, resigned after the street riots that broke out last night in Tbilisi caused by the address of a Russian representative in the parliament of that country, one of the leaders of the ruling party "Georgian Dream", Kaha Kaladze, told reporters.
More than 200 people were injured in demonstrations in the Georgian capital after police used rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannons against protesters outside the parliament building during a speech by Russian lawmaker Sergei Gavrilov, with half of the injured still in hospital.
The resignation of the speaker of the parliament was one of the demands of the protesters.
Georgia and Russia fought a brief war in August 2008 over the Georgian breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Georgia lost that war, and Abkhazia and South Ossetia declared independence.
The two countries severed diplomatic relations after the war, but in recent years have taken steps to restore relations.
Georgia has lifted visas for Russian visitors, and Russia has lifted its ban on the import of Georgian wine.
However, animosity toward Russia is still strong because of the Kremlin's support of two separatist governments, as well as Russia's financing and arming of separatist groups in those regions.
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