2009 Georgian demonstrations
This article needs to be updated.(November 2010) |
2009 Georgian demonstrations | |||
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Russo-Georgian war Human rights violations Mass incarceration | |||
Goals | Resignation of Demonstrations, civil disobedience , road blockades | ||
Resulted in | No policy/leadership change in response to the protests | ||
Parties | |||
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Lead figures | |||
In 2009, a
Opposition plans
On 27 March 2009, 13 opposition parties agreed to hold a joint rally to demand Saakashvili's resignation in an announcement named Manifesto of Unity. It was signed by Alliance for Freedom (uniting
Salome Zourabichvili stressed on 8 April, that the demonstrators will remain on the streets until the president steps down.[3]
The date of 9 April 2009, was chosen because it will be the 20-year anniversary of the day when 20 people died as
Opposition parties have accused Saakashvili of concentrating power to himself, using
Preparations
On 8 April, the Tbilisi-based pro-opposition
Foreign diplomats have called for a dialogue between the government and opposition,[11] and the Georgian Orthodox Church has urged the opposition, the government and the Georgian army not to resort to force.[12]
On 8 April 2009,
President Saakashvili has stated there was "no alternative to dialogue" and the government was ready to talk even "with the smallest and the most radical group".[14] The Georgian Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili said that the authorities would show "maximum tolerance" towards the protesters and police would retaliate in case of the opposition attempts at storming the government buildings.[15] Fire crews and hundreds of police in full riot gear were positioned on the courtyard of the parliament in central Tbilisi in early 9 April.[16]
First day of demonstrations
On the morning of 9 April, the
Second day of demonstrations
On 10 April, about 20,000[citation needed] people took part in the rally in Tbilisi. The opposition announced the start of a national disobedience campaign. Major roads in Tbilisi were blocked off for six hours, causing the traffic in the city to paralyze. The opposition said that the same action will be repeated every day.[18]
Continued protests
The Georgian opposition said on 12 April 2009 it would continue its peaceful protest demanding the resignation of President Mikheil Saakashvili, despite its previous decision to hold a break for a religious holiday.[citation needed]
On 13 April 2009 the protesters set up camp outside President Saakashvili's office.[19] and the opposition leaders stated they were ready to hold talks with the president but that an election was the only way out of the deadlock.[19]
Opposition leaders have pledged to keep the protests peaceful
On 26 May 2009, the Georgian independence day, 60,000 protesters gathered to demand Saakashvili's resignation.[5] The opposition has also forced the government to cancel the annual military parade.[5] Opposition leaders still insisted that protests will continue until Saakashvili resigns. Saakashvili, on his part, reiterated his refusal once again.[5]
On 28 May 2009, several protesters and five policemen were injured in a clash close to the protest venue outside the Parliament.[6] According to the Georgian government, least one police officer was stabbed and others were beaten. However, the opposition denied the report, saying some 20 plainclothes police attacked its supporters with batons.[21] Television pictures aired by Maestro TV showed dozens of men in civilian clothing clashing with each other on a small street near the Parliament.[6] Opposition leader Kakha Kukava said the clash was "a provocation by a group of policemen who started beating people." Television pictures showed several wounded protesters, one with blood streaming from his head.[22]
Mid June 2009 Georgian police clashed violently with opposition protesters in Tbilisi.[7]
International response
At a meeting of the 28 NATO states and their Georgian counterpart in Brussels on 5 May 2009 NATO called for dialogue between Georgia's government and opposition, for reforms to ensure freedom of media and assembly, and for the government to avoid violence against protests.[20]
Effects on the Georgian economy
On 7 April 2009, Fitch Ratings had warned that Georgia's long-term credit could be downgraded because of the political instability ahead of the planned protests.[4] 9 April 2009 the Prime Minister of Georgia Nika Gilauri warned that political standoff and protest rallies in the country would hit the Georgian economy.[23]
See also
- 2007 Georgian demonstrations
- 2011 Georgian protests
- 2012 Georgian protests
- Rose Revolution
- 2020 Georgian parliamentary election protests
References
- ^ a b c d "Georgia set for political rallies". BBC News. 9 April 2009. Archived from the original on 11 April 2009. Retrieved 9 April 2009.
- ^ a b "Georgians protest into the night". BBC News. 9 April 2009. Archived from the original on 10 April 2009. Retrieved 10 April 2009.
- ^ a b "Georgian Opposition Vows To Protest 'As Long As Needed' Until President Resigns". Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty. 8 April 2009. Archived from the original on 13 April 2009. Retrieved 9 April 2009.
- ^ a b c Shields, Samantha (9 April 2009). "Georgians Plan Big Protest of President". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 11 April 2009. Retrieved 9 April 2009.
- ^ a b c d "Thousands attend Georgia protest". BBC News. 26 May 2009. Archived from the original on 28 May 2009. Retrieved 26 May 2009.
- ^ a b c "Policemen, Protesters Injured in Clash". Civil Georgia. 28 May 2009. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 29 May 2009.
- ^ a b Police beat protesters in Georgian capital Archived 16 November 2020 at the Wayback Machine, Reuters (15 June 2009)
- ^ End of Street Protests for Now Archived 26 May 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Civil Georgia. 27 July 2009
- ^ 13 Parties Agree to Jointly Organize Protest Rallies Archived 5 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Civil Georgia. 27 March 2009
- ^ TV Advert Briefs on Rallies Schedule Archived 7 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Civil Georgia. 8 April 2009
- ^ Diplomats Call for a Dialogue Archived 7 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Civil Georgia. 8 April 2009
- ^ Head of Georgian Church Calls for Restraint Archived 7 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Civil Georgia. 8 April 2009
- ^ Police Set Up Rallies’ Monitoring Center Archived 7 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Civil Georgia. 8 April 2009
- ^ Saakashvili: No Alternative to Dialogue Archived 7 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Civil Georgia. 7 April 2009
- ^ Merabishvili Says No Chance of Revolution Archived 15 July 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Civil Georgia. 9 April 2009
- ^ "Georgia braces for mass rallies against Saakashvili". Reuters. 9 April 2009. Archived from the original on 25 June 2009. Retrieved 9 April 2009.
- ^ Protesters Keep Vigil Civil.ge 2008-04-10. Accessed 2009-04-12. Archived 2009-06-22.
- ^ "Daily protests planned in Georgia". BBC News. 10 April 2009. Archived from the original on 13 April 2009. Retrieved 11 April 2009.
- ^ a b c Georgia protesters step up drive to oust president Archived 22 November 2020 at the Wayback Machine, Reuters (13 April 2009)
- ^ a b Georgian opposition clash with police in Tbilisi Archived 22 November 2020 at the Wayback Machine, Reuters (6 May 2009)
- ^ "Violence mars Georgian protests". BBC News. 29 May 2009. Archived from the original on 1 June 2009. Retrieved 29 May 2009.
- ^ "Georgia says policemen stabbed in protest clash". Reuters. 28 May 2009. Archived from the original on 1 June 2009. Retrieved 29 May 2009.
- ^ PM: Political Standoff Harms Economy Archived 7 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Civil Georgia. 8 April 2009