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Seventeen Years Later Rustaveli Avenue Is In Gas Smoke Again

November 7, 2007

In the morning of November 7 at 8:00 AM the people participating in the hunger strike were dispersed and several hours later, at approximately 1:00 PM the number of people in front of parliament, who were injured and dispersed, increased. Initially the policemen tried to disperse the demonstration by using clubs. Several minutes later, the Special Forces Unit used water cannon, tear gas, clubs and rubber bullets against the population. A part of the demonstrators took shelter in the Kashveti Church, situated on the Rustaveli Avenue; however the Special Forces chased the running people there too. The injured people were taken to hospitals by ambulances. At the moment the total number of injured people is unknown.

Chronology of November 7, 2007

11:15 AM

The number of policemen in front of the parliament building apparently exceeds the number of demonstrators. The demonstrators arrived with flags in their hands. It is raining. Everybody recalls April 9 of 1989 this morning. “They are men-haters, people, let them not scare us. If we stand together they will not defeat us.” Gradually the area in front of the parliament is getting crowded. An old woman was having trouble carrying two large bags. “I have brought food from the village. Who should I give it to?” Although the demonstration is scheduled for 2:00 PM, at about 11:00 AM the speakers are already following each other in front of the tribune. “This government is counting its last days in office,” “They have passed verdict on themselves.”

Several minutes before the dispersal, the Human Rights Center interviewed the leaders of opposition as well as the Georgian Public Defender.

Kakha Kukava, a member of the Conservative Party: “It is the last agony of Saakashvili. We have realized that it is impossible to hold democratic elections during Saakashvili’s governance. Thus we will first of all dispel his government and then we will hold elections.”

Zviad Dzidziguri, a member of the Conservative Party: “We knew that this government did not have any dignity, but now we learned that they are totally brainless. No other authority would apply similar measures in order not to insult its population. Today, the people participating in the hunger strike were beaten severely; Russian General Rodionov was the last person who treated Georgian people in such a way on April 9 1989. Saakashvili is fond of mentioning symbols and it is symbolic that today, on November 7 their government will end its existence. Society is anxious. Every Georgian citizen realizes that it is very important to gather in front of the parliament. We will be too active. The people should state who they support – the opposition or the president.”

Davit Usufashvili, a member of the Republic Party: “Similar events have not occurred in Georgia since April 9 1989. Peaceful people on a hunger strike were beaten by policemen; law enforcers were pushing them down from the stairs of parliament. It is worth to mention that the protesters were not warned that they were breaching the law. The police was mute. When journalists asked them why they were forcing out those on the hunger strike, they never said a single word. They went on physically abusing the people. In addition, law enforcers broke the equipment of journalists - they seized cameras and cassettes from them. However, several cameras of the Ministry of Internal Affairs were recording on the scene. As far as I know, one foreign correspondent managed to shoot the dispersal.”

Sozar Subari, the Public Defender: “During recent days, the freedom of assembly and the freedom of expression have been violated several times in Tbilisi and various districts of Georgia. The demonstrators have been severely beaten, properties were damaged and today’s events in front of the parliament are a logical continuation of those violations.”

Nestan Kirtadze, a member of the Labor Party: “It is exactly illustrates the dictatorship of the present government. They do not have enough nerves to watch a peaceful demonstration and people holding candles in their hands. The dictatorship of Saakashvili will soon become ancient history in our country, like the Bolshevik regime.”

Giorgi Gachechiladze, a singer: “What should I say?! They are Nazis and descendents of the generation who were active in Georgia in the 20’s of the last century. Are they building a democracy? Am I not right?”

Davit Zurabishvili, a member of the Democratic Front: “The government could not help their nervous breakdown and it is the first attempt since April 9 to resist peaceful demonstrators. The demonstrations still go on and we are not going to give in. It is the will of the Georgian people and soon the president will become aware of it. In addition, I want to congratulate him on the 90th anniversary of the Great October Revolution today, on November 7.”

12:00 AM

Before special units appeared on Rustaveli Avenue, opposition leaders made above-mentioned statements. Although people were informed that the government was going to disperse them, the wave of people was moving towards Tbilisi’s main thoroughfare. Young activist were getting ready to go out into the city with flags. Now they aim to call upon the people to join the demonstration. The surrounding area was controlled by police units and it causes concern among the population. The demonstrators call upon law enforcers to take off their yellow raincoats and to join them. The first attempt to get through the police cordon and blocking Rustaveli Avenue failed.

1:00 PM

The people, though invited to gather in front of parliament, arrived there one hour earlier. The avenue is not crowded yet; people can easily move along the crowd. The street is protected by policemen dressed in raincoats. Journalists are not allowed to reach the area either. Information is spread about an up-coming dispersal. “We are with many people, and they will not dare to oppose us.” “Special Forces are coming from Republic Square,” “We would rather lie down on the ground.”

It is almost impossible to call with mobile phones. All kinds of devices are switched off. Opposition leaders cannot use megaphones and if somehow they manage to turn it on, the oppositionists call upon the people to move in mass… “Women, go back! Men go forward!” Several minutes later the people move in mass on the pavement. Rustaveli Avenue is blocked for several minutes and the police start to attack; they beat people with clubs. People are severely beaten, dozens of people fall on the ground and ambulances cannot manage to make their way through the crowd. Suddenly, law enforcers leave and go in the direction of Rustaveli Avenue. The main thoroughfare still belongs to the people, but ten minutes later the policemen are replaced by water cannons. Demonstrators, having previously rained on, are now getting wet because of the water cannon. Nearly ten ambulances are mobilized.”

“The injured people should come to the cars.” Some of them can move towards the ambulances, but others are carried there. It is impossible to estimate the exact number of injured people. The muddy people move towards the fountains. A middle-aged man lost his shoe and others, who still manage to stand on their feet, are scolding the abusers.”

Several minutes later, they launched tear gas in front of the parliament. The demonstrators are covered by smoke. The people are in panic and those who are in the center cannot breathe. The demonstrators are running up towards Mama Daviti Church. Some of them, tearing because of the gas, kick the patrol cars on their way to the church.

You can smell gas in the air. It is difficult to breathe and you feel some pain in your nose. The people are put in ambulances. The demonstration is dispersed.

Nino Tarkhnishvili, Eka Kevanishvili, Tbilisi

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