Protest Vigil in Batumi

Thousands of protesters spent a sleepless vigil throughout the night on May 5 outside the Batumi University demanding Adjarian leader Aslan Abashidze’s resignation.

The largest ever protest rally in Batumi vows to keep protesting till end.

No overnight clashes were reported between the protesters and security forces loyal to Abashidze. Earlier on May 4 a smaller rally was violently disbanded by the Abashidze’s security forces.

Meanwhile, in Tbilisi Georgian National Security Council held overnight consultations regarding the situation in Batumi.

The members of the Council ruled out forceful involvement in Adjarian developments.

“Adjarians will decide their future themselves,” President Saakashvili, who joined the Security Council session later, told reporters.

Meanwhile, Adjarian leader Aslan Abashidze made an overnight televised address to his supporters and urged them to protect “democracy and constitutional system” in the Autonomy. He showed no signs of back down.

But Georgian central authorities claim that Abashidze’s regime is falling apart as more supporters of Adjarian leader defect him and switch sides.

“Abashidze’s regime is in panic. We are witnessing countdown to Abashidze’s regime,” Vano Merabishvili, Secretary of the Georgian National Security Council said.

Dozens of local policemen reportedly pledged loyalty to the country’s central government and joined the protest rally in the center of Adjarian capital Batumi.