Opposition Hits the Streets

Despite of the rainy day in Tbilisi more than two thousand people gathered in front of the Parliament today, demanding from the government conduction of the fair and democratic elections. “Enough Ballot Forge” – this is the main slogan of the protest rally.

The United Democrats, New Rights, National Movement, People’s Party and Traditionalists opposition parties are the organizers of the rally.

“Let’s stand together and in order to give the people chance for fair elections,” Mikheil Saakashvili, leader of the National Movement and the Chairman of the Tbilisi City Council said.

“I welcome those opposition parties, which stand together with us right now, especially the common people, students which came here,” Zurab Zhvania, leader of the United Democrats said while addressing the protesters at the Parliament building.

“We should be together to defeat this government,” Levan Gachechiladze, leader of the New Rights Party said.

The protest rallies are planned in the regions as well. The New National Party organizes street protests in Zugdidi, western Georgia, while in the city of Kutaisi New Rights coordinate rally.

The authorities claim that the protest rallies in Georgia aim at destabilization of situation in the country. On June 2 President Shevardnadze called the street protests “an attempt to create a guided chaos in the country” and called the opposition and the population to refrain from hitting the streets.

Georgian State Security Ministry Valeri Khaburdzania was looking at the protesters in Tbilisi from nearby.

“This is [protest rally] a violation of law, as they have no permission to hold the rally,” Khaburdzania told Civil Georgia.

“We have the preliminary information that some forces might use this protest to destabilize situation in the country, that is why I am hear observing the situation,” Security Minister added.

The opposition took the final decision to hold the street protest after the failed talks with the State Minister Avtandil Jorbenadze over the rule of composition of the Central Election Commission (CEC) on June 2.

Jorbenadze offered the opposition to compose the CEC with by representatives of the political parties which that cleared 7% barrier in 1999 Parliamentary elections and 4% barrier in 2002 local elections, also with the representative of the Adjarian and Abkhazian (in exile) Autonomous Republics.

According to the proposal the chairman of the CEC will be appointed by President Shevardnadze. The opposition parties protest against this and demand election of the CEC chairman by the members of the CEC.

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