The Georgian communities of Batumi and Akhalkalaki are witnessing large-scale protests against the Georgian government\'s decision to speed up the pullout of Russian military bases deployed there. Participants in the Batumi rally, mainly members of the Ajarian Patriotic Union, told journalists they were categorically against the Georgian leadership\'s policy which they said causes tensions with Russia. \"The Russian base guarantees peace and stability in our region, and its withdrawal is not in Georgia\'s interests,\" they said. (Interfax)