2007 Georgian demonstrations

The 2007 Georgian demonstrations was a series of anti-government protests in Georgia organized by the National Council, a coalition of ten opposition parties. The demonstrations peaked on November 2, 2007, when 50,000 rallied in downtown Tbilisi, capital of Georgia. People protested against the allegedly corrupt government of president Mikheil Saakashvili and the detention of Georgian politician Irakli Okruashvili on charges of extortion, money laundering, and abuse of office during his tenure as defense minister of the country. Protests occurred both in September and November 2007 and were initially largely peaceful. The protests went downhill by November 6, 2007, but turned violent the next day when the police used heavy-handed tactics to unblock Rustaveli Avenue, Tbilisi's main boulevard. The government declared a nationwide state of emergency later that day and accused the Russian secret service of being involved in an attempted coup d'etat.

On November 8, 2007, President Saakashvili announced a compromise solution to hold early presidential elections for January 5 2008. He also proposed to hold a plebiscite in parallel to snap presidential elections about when to hold parliamentary polls – in spring as pushed for by the opposition parties, or in late 2008.

It is said to have been the worst political crisis in Georgia since the 2003 Rose Revolution that brought Saakashvili's government to power.

Timeline

28 September 2007 protests

Protests started on September 28, 2007. There was no major trouble reported at the rally, except for some minor scuffles between protesters and police when the protesters spilled out onto Rustaveli Avenue, blocking Tbilisi's main thoroughfare in front of the parliament. Demonstrators were demanding early elections, more accountability and honesty in politics.

The rally was organized by an alliance of major opposition parties with the exception of the New Rights which distanced themselves from the manifestation stating that it was "not the way from one temple to another, it is substitute of one leader with another."

Okruashvili's comments

Former Georgian Minister of Defence Irakly Okruashvili who was arrested on corruption charges on 2007-09-27.

Previously, former Georgian Minister of Defense and long-time critic of Moscow's policy towards Georgia Irakly Okruashvili has lashed out at his former associate President Mikheil Saakashvili. Okruashvili had been sacked by the president, in November 2006, from his post of Defense Minister allegedly under pressure from the West in September 2006.

At the presentation of his party For United Georgia, he accused Saakashvili of corruption, lobbying the interests of his own family, weakness towards separatists in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and a lack of morals. Okruashvili also claimed that the Georgian government had been involved in the death of former Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania. Zhvania had died while Prime Minister in February 2005. Okruashvili said that Zhvania's corpse had been taken to the apartment where he was found dead.

Okruashvili retracted his statements and admitted to the charges raised against him on 8 October 2007 on television, he later said he made the statements due to being "psychologically pressured".

Government's response

Okruashvili's political comeback and his arrest coincided with Saakashvili's visit to New York City where he addressed the U.N. General Assembly and heavily criticized Russia's involvement in Georgia's breakaway territories. Meanwhile, Giga Bokeria, an influential member of the Parliament of Georgia from the ruling United National Movement party, said by voicing stunning, but groundless accusations Okruashvili wanted "to create some kind of immunity and untouchable status." On September 29, President Saakashvili headed to Upper Abkhazia where he attended opening of a new road linking Georgian-controlled areas in breakaway Abkhazia with Georgia proper. He made his first remarks on Okruashvili's accusations:

File:M Saakashvili.jpg

Mikhail Saakashvili, Georgia's president

I want to tell you that personally for me it is very difficult what Okruashvili has done. I am accustomed to any accusations leveled against me and against my relatives. But this person [Okruashvili] - unlike those persons, who just believed in or made allegations – knows precisely that it is a lie.

November 2007 protests and riots

On 2 November 2007, tens of thousands of Georgians protested outside the parliament in the capital, Tbilisi, urging President Mikhail Saakashvili to step down. The crowd also called for early parliamentary elections. They accused Saakashvili of heading a corrupt, authoritarian government and want him to be ousted democratically.

The protests continued in the following days; a televised statement from Okruashvili was seen as a boost in support for the opposition.

On November 7, 2007, riot police used water cannons, rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse protesters outside the parliament. Hundreds of riot policemen armed with shields, batons and riot guns were deployed on the Rustaveli Avenue after patrol police failed to contain protesters and unblock the avenue. The number of demonstrators increased rapidly to about 5,000 people and units of black-clad police were deployed after protestors overwhelmed the conventional police force. Police carrying truncheons and shields, were seen beating and punching protestors, the AFP news agency reported. Apart of riot police, a large group of men in black cloths and black masks were also seen attacking protesters. The health minister said 508 people were admitted to hospital, most to be treated for the effects of tear gas. Twenty-three law enforcement officers were injured and 21 people were arrested during the riots.

TV footages showed some protesters throwing stones at riot policemen. They were dispersed by police a second time.

Two pro-opposition independent TV stations have gone off the air: Imedi TV (that is co-owned by the media tycoon Badri Patarkatsishvili who sponsored the National Council recently set up by the ten opposition parties and has pledged to finance the rallies until the government is removed) and Kavkasia. Police officers in masks and assault rifles were seen sealing off the Imedi office. Shortly afterwards, Mikheil Saakashvili declared a state of emergency Georgia-wide to last for 15 days. As a result, news programs at all the private television stations will be shut down for 15 days. The publicly-funded Georgian Public Broadcasting (GPB) will be the only station allowed to provide news coverage.

Government's response

In a televised address, Saakashvili said his country faced "a very serious threat of unrest". "High ranking officials in Russian special services are behind this," he said, adding that he had evidence. He said several Russian diplomats would be expelled from Georgia for engaging in "espionage". Earlier he had recalled Georgia's ambassador to Moscow, Irakly Chubinishvili, for "consultations". Russia denied any involvement in the current disorder.

Saakasvili commented the clashes by saying "We have been hearing for recent months that turmoil was expected in Georgia by autumn. We have been receiving this information from our intelligence" and that "alternative government has already been set up in Moscow".

Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli said a coup attempt was made.

On November 7, Georgia's Interior Ministry released taped audio and video material purporting to show some opposition leaders – Levan Berdzenishvili of the Republican Party, Giorgi Khaindrava of opposition group Equality Institute, Konstantine Gamsakhurdia, the leader of the Freedom Party and Shalva Natelashvili, the leader of Labor Party - cooperating with the Russian counter-intelligence service during a meeting with three Russian diplomats.

Gigi Ugulava, Tbilisi's mayor, defended the action by police, saying: "I was listening to one of the opposition leaders who was saying proudly they planned to pitch tents and set up a tent town in Tbilisi. "What we did is stop this because it is the will of the people not to have a tent town in Tbilisi."

On 8 November, Saakasvili announced he was planning snap presidential elections for January 5 2008. He also proposed to hold a plebiscite in parallel to snap presidential elections about when to hold parliamentary polls – in spring as pushed for by the opposition parties, or in late 2008.

Meanwhile, Georgia's opposition announced the suspension of anti-government protests in Tbilisi. Most of the opposition parties hailed President Saakashvili’s decision as the first step to end the political standoff.

International reaction

Russia

The Russian Foreign Ministry rejected Saakashvili's accusations calling it an "irresponsible provocation" designed by Saakashvili to distract attention from his domestic problems and blame them on a foreign scapegoat. It later issued a statement heavily criticizing the Georgian government for police lawlessness, arrests of opposition leaders and human rights activists, ban on activities of the independent media and violence against the foreign journalists.

USA

The United States welcomed the Georgian government’s decision to hold early presidential elections, while urging to end the state of emergency and restore all media broadcasts.

UN

Louise Arbour, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, rebuked Georgia for its "disproportionate use of force" against protesters and said it must uphold fundamental rights even under a state of emergency. In a statement, she also expressed support for Georgia's public defender, or human rights ombudsman, and voiced concern at the silencing of independent television stations in the former Soviet republic.

NATO

Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, the NATO Secretary General, in a statement on November 8, 2007 said that “The imposition of Emergency Rule, and the closure of media outlets in Georgia, a Partner with which the Alliance has an Intensified Dialogue, are of particular concern and not in line with Euro-Atlantic values”

EU

The EU foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, urged restraint from both sides, saying "political differences should be resolved within the democratic institutions".

Human Rights Watch

Holly Cartner, Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said “Even in a time of crisis, Georgians have a right to protest peacefully without being beaten by the police,” said Holly Cartner, Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “Firing rubber bullets at peaceful demonstrators is a complete abuse of the use of force. The government does not have a carte blanche to restrict fundamental freedoms just because it is in crisis.”

See also

• Movement for United Georgia
• Badri Patarkatsishvili
• Rose Revolution

External links

• Protest Rallies in Pictures (civil.ge)