Current events in Georgia have brought people out on the streets in protest. For four days, people from all over Georgia have arrived in Tbilisi to express their feelings in front of Parliament. There are Georgians who couldn’t come to the capital for different reasons, but they share the demonstrators’ feelings and state unanimously that, “they are not afraid, but they are very tired,” of the Georgian government’s behavior.
The Human Rights Centre’s Kutaisi office went to the streets to see what ordinary people thought about what’s going on in their country. Only one question was asked: “What do you think about the current events in Georgia?”
Manana Arveladze, 42 year-old teacher: “The government should have to regain its conscience in less than no time and apologize for the recent events. Every sphere of life is imperiled. People are killed in the streets and instead of punishing murderers they promote them. The people standing in the cold all day and night are not stupid. They are in real trouble and have serious problems.”
Guliko Jajanidze, 72 year-old pensioner: “Not since I was born have I seen such shameless treatment from the government. People gathered and told their President that they are at a loss. But the government states that Georgia is democratic country and such demonstrations are quite normal. They laugh at us. I doubt that we have an inhuman government, but this government does seem to hate Georgian people. They have to understand that we are not afraid because we are tired of their behavior.”
David Liparteliani, 61 year-old shoemaker: “People are demonstrating in front of Parliament and only a few meters away they held a concert. What does it mean? Is it normal? This means that our government directly tells us I don’t care what you think. It is no time for NATO when people are out in the streets because of starvation and injustice. The opposition parties should not stop or step back. To do so would be the same as defeat. Unfortunately, my family conditions don’t allow me to go and stand with these people.”
Lali Ugrexelidze, 31 year-old teacher: “I am ashamed of attending the NATO concert held on November 3rd in Tbilisi. I can tell without hesitation that it was a direct violation of human rights. I teach 11th grade and I was forced to follow my pupils to the concert. We left Kutaisi at 10 o’clock in the morning and at 6 o’clock we were still on the Rikoti Pass. We nearly died from hunger and cold. Every 15 minutes they were stopping busses and checking them. They made the children stick Saakashvili’s posters on the busses. When we arrived in Tbilisi no one had the strength to go down to the concert. I did not leave the bus. Then, people started saying that one of our busses and schools joined in the demonstration held in front of the parliament. On our way to home, we were stopped several times. They were looking for the ‘betrayer’ bus. I don’t know if they managed to find it.”
Tengiz Charkviani, 44 year-old engineer: “The schools were forced to go to the concert held in support of NATO. I didn’t allow my child to go because I knew that they would use children as a weapon and to fill the stadium. My child’s classmates went and they were exhausted from being stopped every time possible to check that their names were on some list. Is it normal? Is it democracy? People in front of Parliament demand the resignation of this government. Our government may think that these people will just get tired and go home but they are mistaken.”
Shorena Chapidze, 19 year-old student: “Many of my relatives are in Tbilisi and some of them are planning to go to the protest. People are tired of killing and starvation. The attitude of our government towards the public annoys me. They neglect their people. Who will listen to ordinary people? They will not be dismissed and they will hopefully force this shameful government to resign.”
Irakli Giorgadze, 22 year-old footballer: “Our President is a deceiver. All members of the government are scoundrels. The Georgian people are heroes and they will achieve their goal.”
Shorena Kakabadze, Kutaisi
News
December 13, 2023
Ethnic minorities outside the peace dialogue
November 6, 2023
‘Peace’ agenda of political parties
Popular
Articles
February 13, 2024
Why are Ossetians affected by the conflict unable to regain Georgian citizenship and their property?
