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Georgian Opposition Parties Declared November 7 a Day against Violence

November 10, 2008

Nona Suvarian, Tbilisi

Interim presidential and parliamentary elections in spring of 2009, freedom of expression, re-assignment of the TV Imedi on its legal owner before November 23 and release of political prisoners- these demands were raised by opposition parties at the demonstration on November 7 2008. Several thousand demonstrators gathered in front of the parliament building in Tbilisi and later they moved to the residence of the Georgian president. 

The united opposition started to celebrate the anniversary of the November 7 2007 at 2:00 p.m. Exactly one year ago, Riot policemen dispersed demonstrators initially in front of the parliament building and then on Rike (embankment in Tbilisi). Later on, the personnel of the TV Company “Imedi” were also dispersed. Citizens were beaten with truncheons. Demonstrators were dispersed by water cannon, tear gas and rubber bullets.

Manana Nachkebia, one of the leaders of the rights opposition, considers that November 7 is the day against violence and everybody, who thinks that Georgia should not put up with the violence in the country and should not be subdued by the authority, has to join the demonstration on November 7 2008.

Members of the conservative and labor parties, “Movement for the United Georgia”, People’s Party and News Right participated in the demonstration. Jondi Baghaturia, representative of the parliamentary opposition, also appeared at the demonstration. Although, Republican Party was not among organizers of the demonstration, the members of this party also joined the demonstration.

Davit Gamkrelidze (New Rights): “Everybody, who cares about the future of Georgia and who cannot put up with the violence that has become common in Georgia since Rose Revolution, who dared to come out in protest, has joined us at the demonstration. Maybe, hundreds of thousand people are not standing here but most brave people are here. These people decided to express their protest in this way. It is necessary that the entire society was united; we should have one common request to establish freedom of expression, to put an end to the violence and to hold fair elections.”

Kakha Kukava, one of the leaders of the Conservative Party, stated that it is the first demonstration here in after and many more will be held permanently.

“On November 23 2008 we will block the TV Station “Imedi”. Until then we will not hold any demonstration in front of the TV station. We should give the authority time to re-assign the TV Company on its legal owner. In addition to that, huge demonstrations will be organized in December of 2008 and in January of 2009. Finally, we expect to achieve our desired goal.”

Not only politicians but ordinary civilians also expressed their opinions.

Nino Mikaberidze, 34: “I am here because I want to have better future. I want my children to live in normal country where they will be able to get better education and where the private property will be protected.”

Tsitso Kirvalidze, 64: “I do not like the activities of our president. He is a traitor. He should leave our country. This is a president who encourages our youth to act insanely and destroys Georgian science and education.”

Neli: “I am here to protest all the activities of our government. Do you like our life? I do not. Only members of the National Party- the ruling party live well. The rest is oppressed.”

“I have come here to express my protest all those illegal activities and accidents that have occurred recently in Georgia. November 7 2007 and August 2008 were the utmost of those illicit actions. Even if no requests are satisfied, people should have sense of protest about the activities of the authority. I believe that all struggle will have its positive results,” said one of the demonstrators.

On November 7 2008 another protest demonstration was held in front of the TV Company “Imedi”. Former journalists of the TV Company and members of the Christian-Democratic Party were among demonstrators. (Some members of the Christian Democratic Party were journalists of the Imedi TV).  They recalled how riot policemen rushed into the station and dispersed the personnel. Present employees of the TV Company Imedi also joined the protest demonstration.

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