About 500 businesses taking part in strike in Georgia's capital Tbilisi

TBILISI. Jan 15 (Interfax) - A strike to demand a new parliamentary election is taking place in Tbilisi, Georgia on Wednesday, former Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili is among those striking, Georgian pro-opposition television channels said.

Up to 500 businesses are taking part in the strike, TV channels said.

Some 200 protesters blocked automobile traffic on the Republic Square. Zourabichvili joined them. She told reporters that the strike is a peaceful way of protesting.

The footage broadcast by Georgian pro-opposition channels shows people standing outside the two offices of Georgia's largest banks, TBC and Bank of Georgia, holding signs about joining the strike. In addition, people holding signs are walking along Tbilisi streets in small columns, saying that they have joined the strike. According to the leaders of the opposition parties, the strike has been continuing for three hours now.

On Tuesday, senior management of major Georgian businesses made statements that they would not interfere with their employees' participation in the strike outside their workplaces.

Meanwhile, according to local media outlets, a total strike in Tbilisi is not particularly felt, enterprises, shops, restaurants, and markets are operating as usual.