Georgian Parliament Speaker Apologizes To Beaten Journalists

Georgian Parliament Speaker David Bakradze has publicly apologized to journalists who were beaten by police on June 15, RFE/RL's Georgian Service reports.

Several journalists were beaten when plainclothes police destroyed several mock jail cells that had been set up by opposition activists in front of Georgia's State Chancellery as part of a months-long protest against President Mikheil Saakashvili.

Bakrazde also urged the two opposition TV channels -- Maestro and Kavkasia -- to resume their broadcasts.

The two stations had suspended their operations in protest of the beatings.

The stations partially resumed their operations on June 16 after Bakradze's apology.

The Georgian parliament is dominated by Saakashvili supporters.