What Is the Connection between Tents Set Up in Zugdidi, Hunger-strikers and “Misha Is Great” (the song)”?!

Nana Pazhava, Zugdidi

Oppositionists in Zugdidi are on hunger-strike with the accompaniment of the song “Misha (the name of Georgian President) Is Great!” three tents are set up in the main avenue near the statue to Zviad Gamsakhurdia. Hunger-strikers who have been on protest for eight days already listen to the song “Misha is Great”’ during ten hours a day. The remote control for the fountain and the song is in the building of the District Municipality Board leaders of the opposition parties claim the local government breaches the rights of hunger-strikers.

Leaders of the opposition parties from various district of Samegrelo Region arrived in Zugdidi to start protest demonstration. On the sixth day of their protest three out of total thirteen hunger-strikers give up protest because of the worsened health conditions. Vazha Sakhokia, Beso Buliava from Senaki and Gogi Dzaria from Martvili were taken to the medical establishment. The doctors categorically prohibited them to continue hunger-strike.

Kakha Jichonia and Paata Sordia feel the worst of all demonstrators. They refused to be taken to the hospital or take medicines. The three women, who expressed their wish to start hunger-strike several days ago, were also refused to join demonstrators. Most of hunger-strikers are members of the Political Movement “Tavisufleba”. The health conditions of the protesters, Lasha Jichonia, Elguja Kvaraia, Nika Pachkoria, Vakhtang Zarandia, Andro Kankava, Irakli Jamburia, Dato KIntsurashvili and Gia Bartia, are in poorest conditions.

Although the Zugdidi Police Department took the responsibility to guarantee the security of hunger-strikers, provocative facts still occur. Demonstrators express their protest about the patrol and criminal police which disappear from the surrounding area as soon as strange people get into their tents and start scolding and insulting them.

Kakha Mikaia, member of the political movement“Tavisufleba”: “During the daytime our supporters gather in front of our tents. At night the activists from the National Movement visit us…At 3:00 AM when district governor, Aleksandre Kobalia was in his quarter, several people left the building. They started to scold the president and his wife on the place and then went in the direction of the hunger-strikers. They tried to get into the tents. As Mikheil Saakashvili likes to say “We cannot be deceived by similar tricks”. Twenty minutes later the car that belongs to the Environmental Inspection approached us and we estimated that certain Kharebava was driving it. He stopped the car, got out of it, scolded the hunger-strikers and then ran away…”

Local government took measures to cut the electricity in the area where tents are set up. It has been impossible to provide the hunger-strikers with the electricity so far. They lit their tents with candles. However, the dancing fountain is supplied with the electricity without delay. The song “Misha Is Great” is heard in Zugdidi all day long, almost forty times a day. The distance between the tents and amplifier is less than one meter. The dancing fountain is pouring water out of the pull that imitates Georgian Flag and as governmental officials claim the fountain performs the dances best on the accompaniment of “Misha Is Great”.

Paata Sordia, the hunger-striker: “It is the next attempt to irritate us or they try to expose their power and persuade people in the power of Mikheil Saakashvili…I think the behavior of the people with law intellect should not cause our irritation. It is a simple example of sadism and extends all kind of boundaries.”

People working in the special room where the remote control of the fountain is operated explain that one and the same song is repeated because of technical problems. Young man, Nika, who does not want to tell his surname, stated that unidentified people cut the wires of the amplifier and consequently the fountain dances only with the accompaniment of “Misha Is Great” and no more song at all. The argument is reinforced by the statement that the fountain feels like dancing when the song is playing.

Nika, the operator: “I just do my job. I have a schedule-from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and then from 4:00 PM to midnight the fountain must dance. I do not care whether the population is bothered with the dancing or not; I do not estimate the schedule.”

Kakha Kukava, the leader of the Conservative Party, visited the hunger-strikers and tried to find out the author and implementer of the idea. The MP blamed the officials from the local government for fascism and threatened them. Having visited the hunger strikers in Imereti Region and Adjara Autonomous Republic, Kukava could not help his anger in Zugdidi.

Kakha Kukava: “Politics is politics, but the fact that hunger strikers are not supplied with electricity in the tents and they are made to listen to “Misha Is Great” all day long, is fascism. I will punish everybody like fascists were punished. It is inhuman treatment, blatant violation of the rights of the hunger-strikers and I call upon the government to resolve the problem immediately. Nino Burjanadze has already seen the reply on her attitude towards our protest-Georgian population is extremely discontent about her; the same situation will be in Zugdidi too. Nobody will be forgiven for having tortured people!”