“We do believe that a lot of young people will come out in the street and express their opinion openly. They will say loudly that they are not afraid of their murderer government and are ready to resist them. We will inevitably reach our goal: That this murderer government should resign,” states the slogan of the “Youth Movement Against Violence.” Jaba Jishkariani, the leader of the movement, said in his conversation with the Human Rights Center (HRIDC) that the government will fail to frighten the younger generation with violence and arrests. He added, “the government will face much bigger protests instead subduing the youth that will lead them to their final defeat.”
The Youth Movement Against Violence was established approximately two weeks ago. They have held theatrical demonstrations this past week in front of the State Chancellery, the Tbilisi Main Police Department, the HQ of National Movement and the Avchala Colony. The main target of these demonstrations is the government but the goal is to fight against violence, generally. On October 25, they set special boxes near the Rustaveli and Tavisupleba Metro stations as well as near all buildings of Tbilisi State University. Young people would have the opportunity to write their identities on a sheet of paper and drop it in the boxes, automatically becoming members of the Youth Movement.
According to Jishkariani, a group of young people came together and agreed that Georgia needs their integrity. “We all support one idea and the name of it is the Temple of Justice. Our movement is not ruled by any third power and we are absolutely independent. The movement has been created to fight for justice and against the police state and violence,” Jishkariani says. “Our main demand is the end of the violence implemented by Saakashvili’s government once and forever. We are not afraid to admit that we have a murderous government and President. We promise our society that we will do our best to destroy the axis of this evil. However, we need the support of the media to achieve our goals.”
In agreement with the group’s stance, approximately 800 young people have joined the movement. The movement originated with the arrest of several members, Giorgi Mestumrishvili, Irakli Japaridze, Irakli Chukhua and Irakli Gaprindashvili. They will stay in temporary cell #2 of the Tbilisi Human Rights Protection and Monitoring until November 6.
“The government will not scare us with these kinds of activities. To the contrary, a feeling of protest has risen among young people,” Jishkariani continues. “We plan to establish branches in several regions of Georgia. We promise this government that our movement will become larger-scaled and will be a people’s movement throughout Georgia.”
According to members of the organization, peaceful and lawful demonstrations will be held on a continuous basis. “The government will not influence us by arresting and threatening,” Jishkariani states. “On behalf of my friends I can declare that until the principals of democracy are implemented in our country, our movement will not stop. We aim to carry this struggle to its very end. And we have only one way –unmerciful and permanent demonstrations to recover the conscience of our government. They have to realize their mistakes.”
According to Cotne Zurabiani, a member of the Tbilisi Ivane Javakhishvili State University Senate, the Senate is going to establish special headquarters for students in parallel with the Youth Movement where the coordinators of several universities will be united. “They will plan daily demonstrations and the Student’s Movement will be more organized,” Zurabiani says. “We will obviously take part in the November 2nd demonstration and our main slogan will be ‘Students Against Violence’.”
He stated that the Student’s Movement is not subordinate to any political power nor will they cooperate with them in the future. “We are students who are deeply concerned about the current situation in the country and we are motivated by the feeling of protest,” Zurabiani says.
Zurabiani added that several days ago their friend, Giorgi Tophuria, was beaten because his views differed from the University Self-Government and the National Party: “Nobody can scare us with such violence,” states Zurabiani. “We are against violence and we want students to express their different opinions publicly and without fear.”
Members of the Youth Movement declare that they are going to take an active part not only in the November 2nd demonstration but also in all demonstrations planned for autumn where they will state their own ideas and demands. “We will be against all governments which dirtily interfere into University affairs,” Zurabiani continued during his conversation with the Human Rights Centre. “We are fighting against the system existing in the University, ruled by the National Party and David Kirkitadze, Secretary General of the leading party. They want to root out free and independent opinion at the University and hence they are trying their best to utilize their own means to frighten students. But everybody knows what Javakhishvili University is and what kind of influence it has on the younger generation. The government knows and is doing everything they can to impact University Self-Government. But be sure that we will change this undemocratic system.”
Nino Tarkhnishvili, Tbilisi
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