Opposition Urges Supporters to Defend “Bloodless Revolution”
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| Protesters break into the Parliament. Click on image to view other pictures |
Eduard Shevardnadze, who was led by his bodyguards out of the Parliament, after the protesters stormed the legislative body, announced the state of emergency.
Nino Burjanadze, the opposition leader and Chairperson of the outgoing Parliament, declared herself as an acting President, saying “Shevardnadze is incapable to perform presidential duties.”
Key opposition leader Mikheil Saakashvili called his supporters for calm and order. “This is bloodless, velvet revolution. But it is not over yet. We have to maintain our success. I urge the Georgian citizens to come here and defend our success,” Saakashvili said, while addressing tens of thousands of supporters outside the Parliament building late on November 22.
At 5:30 pm crowd led by key opposition leader Mikhail Saakashvili headed towards the Parliament building.
President Shevardnadze was addressing the newly convened Parliament at that moment. Opposition boycotted the new legislative body, claiming “it does not reflect will of Georgian people,” as the authorities manipulated November 2 election results. The United States also condemned the election results as fraudulent.
Mikheil Saakashvili held roses in his hand, when he together with hundreds of supporters rushed into the Parliament chamber, as a sign of peace and nonviolence. “Resign, Resign,” the crowd was chanting referring to Shevardnadze.
The President tried to keep calm and continued speech, while the protesters were trying to break into the Parliament’s chamber. “I will say what I want to say anyway. Let the whole Georgia see what is happening in the Parliament, which is legitimate,” Shevardnadze said. However his bodyguards interrupted him and took the President away from the chamber.
Saakashvili took over the parliamentary speaker’s podium and announced the beginning of the “bloodless, velvet revolution in Georgia.” The newly elected lawmakers, all of them Shevardnadze’s loyalists were watching the protesters with fear.
Almost all the government members, including the Security Minister were in the Parliament chamber at that time.
“We have won today and the most important thing now is to preserve peace,” Nino Burjanadze, who appeared in the Parliament chamber several minutes after the crowed broke in, said from the speaker’s podium.
On the way to his limousine, President Shevardnadze made a brief speech in front of the Parliament building, where government-led rally was held. “I will not resign,” Shevardnadze addressed the supporters, who were dispatched in Tbilisi from Adjara Autonomous Republic of Adjara by Aslan Abashidze, Shevardnadze’s closest ally.
Shevardnadze’s bodyguards paved the way for the President to drive him away from the scene. While the President’s limousine was moving on the Rustaveli Avenue, Tbilisites were chanting: “Go away, Resign.”
In the wake of Shevardnadze’s departure from the downtown Tbilisi his supporters dispersed immediately. Buses and minivans of Shevardnadze’s supporters left for Batumi, Adjara’s capital. As a result tens of thousands of opposition supporters occupied the territory outside the Parliament without any clashes.
After storming the Parliament, opposition supporters entered into the State Chancellery, fearing that Shevardnadze could return to his office. Crowd brought out from the President’s office Eduard Shevardnadze’s chair and burnt it.
Couple of hours after Shevardnadze left the Parliament he made a first comments in his residence in Krtsanisi.
“I am now announcing a state of emergency,” Shevardnadze said in the televised statement. “It is my fault, because I was not strict enough. If I show weakness now, people will no longer forgive me,” he added.
Shevardnadze estimated the recent developments in Georgia as a coup attempt. He said armed group intruded in the Parliament; however no arms were seen in the Parliament on November 22.
Shevardnadze said the country avoided bloodshed. “I asked the Interior Minister not to open fire at the protesters and to avoid bloodshed in the country,” Shevardnadze said.
He said that order should be restored in the country and from now on all the governmental departments should obey the Defense Ministry.
Under the constitution of Georgia, the Parliament should discuss the presidential decree on the state of emergency within 48 hours. It is anticipated that the new members of the Parliament will gather on November 23 in Krtsanisi governmental residence.
However it is unclear whether the state of emergency will be implemented or not. There are no signs that the President is in full control of troops in the country.
The protesters could take over the Parliament and the President’s office on November 22 without any serious resistance from the security forces.
“I will never use force against the Georgia people,” Jumber Antadze Major General of the Georgian internal troops, who was among the troops guarding the streets surrounding the President’s office, told Civil Georgia.
“They are too many of them [protesters]. Of course we won’t use any force against them,” Giorgi Shervashidze, Commander of the Georgian internal troops told Civil Georgia, as the crowd of protesters were approaching the interior troops guarding the President’s office.
Bakhua Chikobava, chief of special-purpose forces of Zugdidi, western Georgian town, announced at 1:30 am on November 23 that his unit “will not obey Shevardnadze’s government’s orders.”
In the morning on November 22 tens of thousands of the opposition supporters gathered on the Freedom Square, just couple of hounded meters away from the State Chancellery to demand Shevardnadze’s resignation.
The opposition’s two-week long protester rallies throughout Georgia were sparked after the fraudulent parliamentary elections. Official results gave victory to the two governmental parties’ – Shevardnadze’s For New Georgia and Aslan Abashidze’s Revival Union.
The opposition supporters were celebrating the first important success in fight against Shevardnadze’s regime, however opposition leaders warned much is to be done for final victory.
“The 48 hours [during which the issue of the state emergency should be decided] will be crucial for us,” Nino Burjanadze said.
“Tomorrow [on November 23] Georgia celebrates Saint George’s Day. I hope we will celebrate tomorrow defeat of the Shevardnadze’s regime and establishment of the strong civil society,” Zurab Zhvania said on November 23.