Pro-Shevardnadze Rally Replaces Opposition outside Parliament

Government-led rally, November 18

As soon as the opposition’s rallies in Tbilisi lost momentum, authorities took advantage and stages pro-Shevardnadze demonstration outside the Parliament.

While the opposition prepares for peaceful march on the President’s office, scheduled for the nearest days, around 7 thousand supporters of President Shevardnadze and Aslan Abashidze, the Adjarian leader, rallied today in the center of the capital city.

Several thousands of supporters of the Revival Union, led by Adjarian leader Aslan Abashidze, arrived today in Tbilisi from Adjara Autonomous Republic to participate in the rally. Leaders of the pro-presidential election bloc For New Georgia and Industry Will Save Georgia party also participate in the meeting.

A crowd of around 7 thousand people marched from the Sport Palace towards the Parliament building, where week ago tens of thousands protesters demanded Shevardnadze’s resignation. However, number of protesters halved by the evening.

The government-led rally was dominated by anti-opposition slogans and speeches. Participants of the rally also slammed Rustavi 2 TV channel “for backing the opposition.”  Participants were criticizing especially Mikheil Saakashvili, a key opposition leader, calling him “fascist and extremist.”

“The only political group, which is interested in peace in the country, is the Revival Union. This is the only reason that made thousands of residents of Adjara to rally here,” Jemal Gogitidze, one of the leaders of the Revival Union said, while addressing the supporters.

“People, which do not want destabilization, gathered today here. [Zurab] Zhvania and [Mikheil] Saakashvili [the opposition leaders] are willing in destabilization and unrest,” Levan Mamaladze, one of the leaders of the Shevardnadze’s party For New Georgia said at the rally.

The pro-Shevardnadze rally in Tbilisi follows series of protest demonstrations in Georgia triggered by the disputed November 2 parliamentary elections, when tens of thousands of citizens demanded Shevardnadze’s resignation and holding of the new Parliamentary elections.

Opposition leaders said, while commenting on the pro-Shevardnadze rally in Tbilisi that most of the participants of the demonstration “were forcefully dispatched to Tbilisi from Adjara.”

“Dictatorial regime of Aslan Abashidze demanded from the employees of the state structures in Adjara to go in Tbilisi and participate in the rally, otherwise threatened with dismissal,” Mikheil Saakashvili said on November 17.

“Busloads of supporters were being brought into the capital,” Saakashvili said. He also stated on November 18, that there are armed men among the people who arrived from Adjara.

While the supporters of the government were slamming the opposition leaders, Zurab Zhvania, Nino Burjanadze and Mikheil Saakashvili were holding talks with Lynn Pascoe, the Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs of the U.S. Department of State, who visits Georgia on November 18-19. Lynn Pascoe will also meet President Shevardnadze this evening.

“The U.S. is interested to assist Georgia in overcoming this crisis peacefully,” Nino Burjanadze, the Chairperson of outgoing Parliament and the opposition leader said after talks with the U.S. official.

“We explained to Mr. Pascoe that those people who rallied last week in front of the Parliament, will not step back and will go to very end,” Zurab Zhvania told reporters after the meeting with the U.S. official.

“The U.S. seeks for peaceful resolution of the current crisis. We want the same, but Shevardnadze is the one, who seeks for opposite, destabilization and civil confrontation,” Mikheil Saakashvili said.

The opposition leaders decided on November 17, after President Shevardnadze said that he will not resign and will convene the new Parliament in the nearest days, to stage a peaceful march on the State Chancellery, the President’s office on November 19.