Opposition Launches Civil Disobedience
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| Thousands demanded Shevardnadze’s resignation |
Mikheil Saakashvili, the opposition leader, urged the Georgian citizens to stop paying taxes and called on public sector employees to stay away from work.
“I call on each citizen of Georgia to declare civil disobedience against the Shevardnadze’s regime. I call on police and army not to obey the orders of the authorities. I call on the employees of state organizations to cease working for these authorities and paralyze the activity of state structures,” Saakashvili said on November 14, while addressing thousands of people gathered today in front of the Parliament building.
Earlier on November 14 Mikheil Saakashvili called President Shevardnadze to appear before the demonstrators in front of the Parliament. The crowd of protesters waited for the president in silence for half an hour in vain and then staged a march near the President’s office, chanting “Go Away, Resign.”
“Our President is a coward; he failed to meet our request. I do not recognize him as a president of Georgia any more,” Mikheil Saakashvili said.
“Never in Georgia were the people so mobilized against the government. Do not think that he [Shevardnadze] will not step down. If we continue this kind of protest rallies, I promise you that Shevardnadze will resign,” Saakashvili added.
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| Riot police on high alert as protesters approach the President’s office. |
Despite the authorities’ warnings that the mass protest could lead to destabilization, no violence has been reported. The opposition leaders called the protesters for calm and for avoiding any contact with the police and riot police units deployed in the streets adjacent to the President’s office.
“We are not going to storm the president’s building. This is a peaceful demonstration. Let’s not give ground for provocation,” Saakashvili addressed the protesters.
Round-the-clock protests rallies in capital city have been sparked since November 8, after the Central Election Commission announced preliminary results of disputed November 2 parliamentary elections. According to the official results two governmental parties – Shevardnadze’s For New Georgia and Adjarian leader Aslan Abashidze’s Revival Union lead the polls, which according to the international observers were marred with widespread violations.
Despite Shevardnadze’s televised address urging the Georgian citizens “to stay at homes and not take part in the rally,” the protest marches were held not only in Tbilisi, but also in other parts of Georgia. Couple of thousand people gathered in the center of eastern Georgian town of Telavi demanding resignation of local chief of administration Medea Mezvrishvili, who has been Shevardnadze’s ally and his foothold in Kakheti region for many years.
President Shevardnadze also said in his televised address that he will “not resign now, as it will be irresponsible step.”
While the thousands were demanding Shevardnadze’s resignation, Georgian President was holding a phone conversation with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, to inform him on the recent developments in the country. This was the second phone conversation between the Georgian and Russian Presidents during last week. Reportedly Russian President expressed hope that the stability will be maintained in Georgia.
At the same time, head of Adjara Autonomous Republic Aslan Abashidze, who recently vowed to provide held Eduard Shevardnadze in overcoming the current crisis in Georgia, met with the Russian Foreign Minster Igor Ivanov in Moscow.
“If we allow a situation similar to that in late 1991 [when bloody civil war was sparked in Georgia] then peace will never come to the Caucasus. I have this gut feeling that the situation is turning in that direction,” Aslan Abashidze said after the meeting with the Russian Foreign Minister.
Mikheil Saakashvili said today, while commenting on Abashidze, Shevardnadze cooperation that the President “promised Abashidze’s people post of interior and security ministers in his government. We will never permit Abashidze dictatorial regime to be spread in Tbilisi.”
November 14 protest rally was the largest in Georgia since late 80s, when Georgians were protesting against the Soviet leaders. Even larger protest rallies are anticipated throughout Georgia, as the opposition called for civil disobedience against the authorities.
Saakashvili called the Georgian citizens to rally in front of the Parliament on November 17. Meanwhile the opposition will create special groups in the regions, which will organize civil disobedience campaigns.