TBILISI, March 9 (RIA Novosti, Marina Kvaratskhelia) - Demonstrators clashed with police Thursday in the Georgian capital after about 2,000 people gathered in the heart of the city and in front of the country's parliament building to protest new regulations on large fines for sales operations carried out without cash registers.
The disturbances broke out as the protestors attempted to block traffic.
The coalition council of Georgian opposition parties that organized the rally claimed the municipal authorities had allowed them to block the road after a similar rally was held in the Georgian capital March 1.
No serious incidents occurred during the rally, but the opposition condemned the actions of the law enforcement agencies.
"This is a criminal case organized by the country's president and the interior minister," said Koba Davitashvili, a leader of the Georgian Conservative Party.
"Our rally is legal, as five days ago we informed all the relevant bodies about our plans," he said.
The protesters demanded the postponement of new regulations, which came into force March 1, for at least one year. The regulations stipulate fines starting at about $280 for sales operations carried out without cash registers, a considerable sum considering that the estimated per capita gross domestic product in 2005 equaled $3,800 in terms of purchasing power parity.
Some protesters also demanded the dismissal of the president and government.
Many opposition leaders gathered in front of the parliament building. Some of them later moved to the State Chancellery. Davitashvili is currently seeking a meeting with Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli.
The Georgian Finance Ministry said the main aim of the new regulations was to secure consumers' rights, as well as to tighten control over traders' incomes.
