 This is the moment anti-war demonstrators forced a Russian cruise ship out of Georgian shores. Protests spread across the city of Batumi and the capital Tbilisi last week in what was the latest show of changing attitudes towards Vladimir Putin's Kremlin. The reason behind them – the 633ft-long Astoria Grande with 800 mostly Russian tourists on board. Passengers disembarking from the vessel, which recently began cruises from the Russian port of Sochi, were met by protesters holding banners decrying Russia's invasion of Ukraine. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Those behind the event in Batumi stressed there were musicians on board who openly support the war. Many were pictured with middle fingers in the air, while others were seen waving Georgian and Ukrainian national flags. People hurled eggs and bottles at the ship, and clashed with police while trying to break through the barricades, resulting in more than 20 arrests. Citing data from the cruise sales agency, RIA Novosti said the Astoria Grande will no longer stop in the Georgian port as a result. People protest against the arrival of the Astoria Grande cruise ship (Picture: Ukrinform/Shutterstock) Demonstrators stage a sit-in just meters away from the vessel (Picture: Ukrinform/Shutterstock) Though last week's visit may be its last, it was enough to fuel the anger of people in Georgia looking to rid of any Russian influence in the country. It comes as the ruling Georgian Dream party reinstated direct flights between the country and Russia in a sign that many Georgians see as tightening the relations with Moscow. But pro-European president Salome Zurabishvili praised the 'peaceful' protests. 'Proud of our people protesting peacefully the latest Russian provocation – a Russian cruise liner visiting the Georgian port of Batumi while Putin blocks grain shipments and hi){kind=link}
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This is the moment anti-war demonstrators forced a Russian cruise ship out of Georgian shores.
Protests spread across the city of Batumi and the capital Tbilisi last week in what was the latest show of changing attitudes towards Vladimir Putin’s Kremlin.
The reason behind them – the 633ft-long Astoria Grande with 800 mostly Russian tourists on board.
Passengers disembarking from the vessel, which recently began cruises from the Russian port of Sochi, were met by protesters holding banners decrying Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.