Protest and demonstration planned in Tbilisi on 7 November

Opposition parties in Georgia are planning to stage a protest and demonstration march over political prisoners, media freedom, elections and other issues in Tbilisi on 7 November 2008, the anniversary of an outbreak of violence at opposition protests in 2007. The action, which city officials have sanctioned, will begin in front of Parliament on Rustaveli Avenue at 1400 local time and will involve a march to the Presidential Residence in Avlabari. Reports indicate that opposition leaders are also planning additional protest actions, but details have not been released. The Conservative Party, the Republican Party, the Labor Party, the National Party, the Movement for Unified Georgia, the National Party and the Party of Way of Georgia make up the coalition of groups participating in the protest.