Georgian laser show taunts Russia

Anti-war slogans are projected onto the embassy (Picture: Georgian TV)

Tech-savvy Georgian protesters are blasting the Russian embassy in Tbilisi with a computer-generated laser show and loud music.

With a unique "son et lumiere" display, protesters are calling for a withdrawal of Russian peacekeeping troops from Georgian territory and for a settlement of the conflict in breakaway South Ossetia.

Every evening, using a laptop, projector and speakers, activists huddle across the street to project a series of explosions, flags, and anti-Russian slogans on the walls of the embassy.

Blaring nationalistic music is directed against the embassy as well.

The protests come as Russian and Georgian politicians trade accusations over fighting in South Ossetia, where pro-Russian separatists are pushing for independence from Georgia.

A clip showing an oncoming tank firing straight at the viewer is particularly popular Komsomolskaya Pravda

The protesters' slogans include: "Georgia without Russian troops", "Police state", "MirotWARtsy" - an ironic corruption of the Russian word for peacekeepers, "mirotvortsy" - and "Take your trench coat and go".

At one point, a verse from the 19th Century Russian poet Mikhail Lermontov appears: "Farewell, unwashed Russia, land of masters, land of slaves, land that can no lower go, land where the rabble run the show."

'Computer hooligans'

All of this is unnerving not only the Russian diplomats inside the embassy building, but Russian newspapers too.

"Georgians ridicule Russia - every evening on the facade of our embassy in Tbilisi," complains Komsomolskaya Pravda.

Protesters use a laptop to orchestrate the light show (Georgian TV)

"The embassy guards, who are provided by the Georgian interior ministry, and the local authorities are taking no notice of this, despite protests by Russian diplomats."

"A clip which shows an oncoming tank firing straight at the viewer is particularly popular," it adds.

"Target of a techno-attack. Computer hooligans stage laser show at the diplomatic mission," declares Nezavisimaya Gazeta.

"Since the end of last week, life has been one big disco for diplomats at the Russian embassy to Georgia."

"A group of young Tbilisi computer experts, unhappy with Moscow's position on a settlement of the crisis between Georgia and South Ossetia, have been 'entertaining' the Russian diplomats in their own special way."

Trading accusations

Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili in a newspaper interview denounced what he called military aid from Russia for the South Ossetian rebels.

Since the end of last week, life has been one big disco for diplomats at the Russian embassy Nezavisimaya Gazeta

Mr Saakashvili told France's Liberation he had "no intention" of provoking a war and called for an international conference to discuss the status of South Ossetia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said last week the crisis was rooted in a "stupid decision" by Tbilisi to revoke the region's Soviet-era autonomous status after it became independent in 1991.

South Ossetia falls within Georgian borders but is inhabited mainly by ethnic Ossetians. The adjacent province of North Ossetia, also dominated by Ossetians, is part of Russia.

South Ossetia broke away from Georgia in 1992, following an 18-month conflict.

Last week Georgia began pulling troops out of the conflict zone, apart from those serving in a joint peacekeeping force alongside Russians and Ossetians.

A ceasefire deal struck earlier this month has been repeatedly violated.

BBC Monitoring, based in Caversham in southern England, selects and translates information from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages.