Categories
Journalistic Survey
Articles
Reportage
Analitic
Photo Reportage
Exclusive
Interview
Foreign Media about Georgia
Editorial
Position
Reader's opinion
Blog
Themes
Children's Rights
Women's Rights
Justice
Refugees/IDPs
Minorities
Media
Army
Health
Corruption
Elections
Education
Penitentiary
Religion
Others

Вива Миша! Russia stop! Путин кмара!

September 3, 2008

Shorena Kakabadze,Kutaisi


All of Georgia is united against alleged Russian aggression, and in light of the capture of South Ossetia and parts of Abkhazia, and as part of a larger public relations campaign, a human chain surrounded the whole country on September 1st to show Georgian outrage.  There were no borders to this protest, and the action went far beyond the border of occupied Georgia. All the international community is charged with patriotic spirit. Those from all regions of Georgia prepared for this day in their own special way. We took a look over the action preparation process in Kutaisi, which is one of the largest cities in Western Georgia.

The preparation started early from the morning, and it was clear to everyone that today was the “great day“, and how everyone must stand together and save Georgia.

„We had been told several days earlier that all state institutions would stop working at 2 p.m. on September 1st and people would join the human chain in protest. We were going to stand there because our country needed the support, told one lady. She is joining with her like minded people the patriots who have gathered in the city central square; they all shared in the same spirit and stood hand-in-hand protecting the country!
The cars decorated with Georgian flags fill the main streets of the city of Kutaisi. Many flags can still be seen today. There are also flags of our mostly friendly country- America. However, the Georgian flags far exceed them in number.

“We will hold the flags and know their true value. No one will defeat us, not Russia and the whole world, and will see that Georgia is ours and only ours. We will not allow ourselves to admit that someone can take it away from us.”
“This protest was needful and essential. We should have arranged something like this long time ago. There is no other way to stop Russia.”
“The unity is necessary in all kinds of work. I like this action and that’s why I have joined it. I will join any kind of protest whenever my country needs me. This is how we perceive the love for the home land.”
Free space in the main square at the Aghmashenebeli monument is becoming smaller and smaller. The action has come to its culmination. However, not all members of the protest think the same way, and there are different explanations:

“The fact is that symbols have become part of our lives. I think it is time we returned to the real world. We must face the truth and climb out of a big hole we have fallen in willy-nilly – “one fine day” - there is nothing better than living in a reality and knowing the truth is a relief to the soul.”
“I like that people are united but it is unfortunate that they soon become unreliable and tstart lying the moment the action finishes. I prefer that everyone expresses their patriotism by doing their job.”

“If you walk in the city you will see that all institutions are closed. No one is asking why. Everyone knows that everyone is protesting and their country needs them to be there. What if I need is medicine. I hardly physically go to the drug store but no one is there. No one cares about my health conditions at the moment. Do you call this patriotism? Standing in the street is patriotism is how we are able to express our love to the motherland.”

The controversial ideas can be heard from the very morning. Some are angry, and some are making jokes.  Those who do not attend the action will be punished at the meeting of the National party members....”
There is a heavy flow of cars. The drivers join the action by blowing their horns all at the same time. The buses are overcrowded and stuffed. People can not get on buses and have to wait for next bus. Some are late. People are irritated. However, in this traffic jam appears one small motorcycle which raises peoples’ spirits. It has a poster at its back: Вива Миша!  Stop Russia! Путин кмара! Apparently, the brains behind this Russian-English slogan tried his best and he has contributed to the protest rather effectively.

Bankers, doctors, teachers, students and even children- all of them were in the Kutaisi main square with flags. Adults were waving big flags and children-small ones. Little patriots are posing in front of cameras, adults gave interviews. Everyone is ready to save the country. However, everyone perceives the word in different way. Each proves their love to the country in their own way. However, all of them know that the human chain in Kutaisi must be strong and cannot be broken; otherwise, it would be impossible to span the entire country. 

 

 

News