Georgia names new prime minister who condemns Russian occupation

The republic of Georgia's parliament on Sundayappointed a new prime minister, Giorgi Gakharia, who in a speech tothe legislature condemned Russian occupation of two breakawayregions. "We all agree that occupation is the biggest problem, the biggestchallenge, the greatest evil for our country," Gakharia said ahead ofbeing appointed, state broadcaster First Channel reported.Georgia lost control of two breakaway regions, South Ossetia andAbkhazia, during a brief war with neighbouring Russia in 2008. Russiamaintains de facto control of the territories.Gakharia, previously Georgia's interior minister, courted controversythree months ago with a police crackdown on mass anti-Russianprotests in the capital, Tbilisi, incited by the visit of a Russiandelegation.The delegation had come to promote ties between countries whereOrthodox Christianity is widely practised. One member of thedelegation, a Russian senior lawmaker, was allowed to chair a meetingin the Georgian parliament.Georgian political opposition members objected to the prestige shownto the Russian politician. The incident underscored apprehension ofRussian political forces' potential for gaining power in formerSoviet Georgia.The parliament's chairman at the time resigned in an effort toappease the protesters. There were also some calls for Gakharia toresign.Gakharia is supported by the dominant Georgian Dream party, which hastaken a centrist approach to strengthening relations with the Westwhile attempting to preserve some beneficial economic ties withnearby Russia.