2011 Georgian protests
Encyclopedia
The 2011 Georgian protests were a series of anti-government protests in Georgia
against President Mikheil Saakashvili
.
demanding Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili
's resignation. In the southwestern town of Batumi
some demonstrations also occurred with some protesters attempting to break into television building. Nino Burjanadze
, an ex-parliamentary speaker and leader of the Democratic Movement-United Georgia party, has been a lead figure in the demonstrations. The protesters in Batumi
briefly clashed with police.
Burjanadze stated that one of the aims of the protesters was to prevent a parade commemorating the independence of the Democractic Republic of Georgia on 26 May 1918 from taking place in Freedom Square in Tbilisi. On 26 May at about 00:15, Georgian police began to suppress the protests with tear gas and rubber bullets, and the protests soon ended. Burjanadze apparently fled in a motorcade which ran over one protester and one policeman (killing them both; two more bodies later showed up as well, apparently electrocuted by a loose wire).
On the 28 May, a separate demonstration was held with thousands of participants, protesting against violence both by the protesters and by the police.
, husband of former parliament speaker Nino Burdzhanadze, with attempting to orchestrate the government takeover using paramilitary groups during the violent anti-government protests. There have been 105 other arrests of protesters.
, and that they provoked the violence. Likewise, the American ambassador to Georgia
stated that "here were clearly a number of people included in that protest who were not interested in peacefully protesting, but were looking to spark a violent confrontation." The Georgian Interior Ministry has released video recordings that it claims show opposition members discussing how to instigate clashes with police The Economist'', meanwhile, spoke of an attempt by Burjanadze to "claw her way back to power".
Irakly Alasania, also an opposition leader stated that the protests were doomed to failure because
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
against President Mikheil Saakashvili
Mikheil Saakashvili
Mikheil Saakashvili is a Georgian politician, the third and current President of Georgia and leader of the United National Movement Party.Involved in the national politics since 1995, Saakashvili became president on 25 January 2004 after President Eduard Shevardnadze resigned in a November 2003...
.
Events
The protests began on 21 May 2011 when over 10,000 Georgians attended a demonstration in TbilisiTbilisi
Tbilisi is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mt'k'vari River. The name is derived from an early Georgian form T'pilisi and it was officially known as Tiflis until 1936...
demanding Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili
Mikheil Saakashvili
Mikheil Saakashvili is a Georgian politician, the third and current President of Georgia and leader of the United National Movement Party.Involved in the national politics since 1995, Saakashvili became president on 25 January 2004 after President Eduard Shevardnadze resigned in a November 2003...
's resignation. In the southwestern town of Batumi
Batumi
Batumi is a seaside city on the Black Sea coast and capital of Adjara, an autonomous republic in southwest Georgia. Sometimes considered Georgia's second capital, with a population of 121,806 , Batumi serves as an important port and a commercial center. It is situated in a subtropical zone, rich in...
some demonstrations also occurred with some protesters attempting to break into television building. Nino Burjanadze
Nino Burjanadze
Nino Burjanadze is a Georgian politician and lawyer who served as Chairperson of the Parliament of Georgia from November 2001 to June 2008...
, an ex-parliamentary speaker and leader of the Democratic Movement-United Georgia party, has been a lead figure in the demonstrations. The protesters in Batumi
Batumi
Batumi is a seaside city on the Black Sea coast and capital of Adjara, an autonomous republic in southwest Georgia. Sometimes considered Georgia's second capital, with a population of 121,806 , Batumi serves as an important port and a commercial center. It is situated in a subtropical zone, rich in...
briefly clashed with police.
Burjanadze stated that one of the aims of the protesters was to prevent a parade commemorating the independence of the Democractic Republic of Georgia on 26 May 1918 from taking place in Freedom Square in Tbilisi. On 26 May at about 00:15, Georgian police began to suppress the protests with tear gas and rubber bullets, and the protests soon ended. Burjanadze apparently fled in a motorcade which ran over one protester and one policeman (killing them both; two more bodies later showed up as well, apparently electrocuted by a loose wire).
On the 28 May, a separate demonstration was held with thousands of participants, protesting against violence both by the protesters and by the police.
Arrests
In early June, Georgian authorities arrested and charged Badri BitsadzeBadri Bitsadze
Badri Bitsadze is the former Chief of the Border Police of Georgia. He holds the rank of Lieutenant General, and previously held the posts of Chief Military Prosecutor, Deputy General Prosecutor, and Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs...
, husband of former parliament speaker Nino Burdzhanadze, with attempting to orchestrate the government takeover using paramilitary groups during the violent anti-government protests. There have been 105 other arrests of protesters.
Reactions
Mikheil Saakashvilli stated that he believed the protestors were backed by RussiaGeorgia–Russia relations
Georgia–Russia relations are the relations between Georgia and Russia and between the Georgian and Russian people in particular, lasting from the 18th century....
, and that they provoked the violence. Likewise, the American ambassador to Georgia
John R. Bass
John R. Bass is the current Ambassador of the United States of America to Georgia , as of October 16, 2009.Ambassador Bass is from upstate New York, and is a graduate of Syracuse University. He speaks Italian and French.-See also:...
stated that "here were clearly a number of people included in that protest who were not interested in peacefully protesting, but were looking to spark a violent confrontation." The Georgian Interior Ministry has released video recordings that it claims show opposition members discussing how to instigate clashes with police The Economist'', meanwhile, spoke of an attempt by Burjanadze to "claw her way back to power".
Irakly Alasania, also an opposition leader stated that the protests were doomed to failure because