Thousands rally to support opposition campaign, media freedom
By Ana Sulakvelidze
Monday, November 26
With the race for the presidency officially underway, the opposition coalition staged its first mass public rally since riot police violently dispersed anti-government demonstrators on November 7.
“Whatever methods they use, the authorities can’t terrorize us,” declared coalition representative Koba Davitashvili in front of opposition supporters on Sunday.
More protest than campaign event, the rally began in Rike, the site of the most aggressive crackdown on November 7. About 5 000 people joined the rally and a march to the parliament building on central Rustaveli Avenue, though some organizers claimed the crowd to be in the tens of thousands.
Demonstrators, many waving political party flags and banners calling for media freedom, applauded as opposition politicians demanded that Imedi be allowed to resume broadcasts.
Imedi is the media group founded by tycoon and presidential candidate Badri Patarkatsishvili, who vowed in early November to use all of his resources to change the government in Tbilisi.
Network representatives say special forces troops ransacked their studio and archive in a November 7 shutdown of the station; authorities say Imedi was broadcasting calls for the overthrow of the government.
Patarkatsishvili, now out of the country, is wanted for questioning on conspiracy charges. Imedi’s TV and radio stations remain off air.
“This rally is a warning,” Conservative MP Zviad Dzidziguri told the crowd. “If [Imedi] is not allowed to resume broadcasting in the next few days…we will go back to Rustaveli Avenue [for more protests].”
The nine-party opposition coalition is jointly backing Levan Gachechiladze, an independent MP, as its presidential candidate. If he wins the presidency, Gachechiladze promises to strip the office of its powers. His running mate, ex-foreign minister Salome Zourabichvili, would presumably helm the government as prime minister.
Gachechiladze is one of at least five politicians vying to unseat incumbent Mikheil Saakashvili. The New Rights party, one of the few prominent opposition parties not to join the opposition coalition, officially nominated part leader Davit Gamkrelidze on Saturday as a their candidate for the January 5 presidential election.
“[Davit Gamkrelidze] is a Western-style leader, with strong traditions and Christian values,” said New Rights MP Pikria Chikhladze at the party congress.
Describing the New Rights party as the “principle and successful opposition” to Saakashvili, whose resignation from the presidency on Sunday allowed for the snap election to go ahead, party representatives also named their nominees for key ministry posts.
Two other opposition parties, the Industrialists and the National Democratic Party, are also backing Gamkrelidze.
“Whatever methods they use, the authorities can’t terrorize us,” declared coalition representative Koba Davitashvili in front of opposition supporters on Sunday.
More protest than campaign event, the rally began in Rike, the site of the most aggressive crackdown on November 7. About 5 000 people joined the rally and a march to the parliament building on central Rustaveli Avenue, though some organizers claimed the crowd to be in the tens of thousands.
Demonstrators, many waving political party flags and banners calling for media freedom, applauded as opposition politicians demanded that Imedi be allowed to resume broadcasts.
Imedi is the media group founded by tycoon and presidential candidate Badri Patarkatsishvili, who vowed in early November to use all of his resources to change the government in Tbilisi.
Network representatives say special forces troops ransacked their studio and archive in a November 7 shutdown of the station; authorities say Imedi was broadcasting calls for the overthrow of the government.
Patarkatsishvili, now out of the country, is wanted for questioning on conspiracy charges. Imedi’s TV and radio stations remain off air.
“This rally is a warning,” Conservative MP Zviad Dzidziguri told the crowd. “If [Imedi] is not allowed to resume broadcasting in the next few days…we will go back to Rustaveli Avenue [for more protests].”
The nine-party opposition coalition is jointly backing Levan Gachechiladze, an independent MP, as its presidential candidate. If he wins the presidency, Gachechiladze promises to strip the office of its powers. His running mate, ex-foreign minister Salome Zourabichvili, would presumably helm the government as prime minister.
Gachechiladze is one of at least five politicians vying to unseat incumbent Mikheil Saakashvili. The New Rights party, one of the few prominent opposition parties not to join the opposition coalition, officially nominated part leader Davit Gamkrelidze on Saturday as a their candidate for the January 5 presidential election.
“[Davit Gamkrelidze] is a Western-style leader, with strong traditions and Christian values,” said New Rights MP Pikria Chikhladze at the party congress.
Describing the New Rights party as the “principle and successful opposition” to Saakashvili, whose resignation from the presidency on Sunday allowed for the snap election to go ahead, party representatives also named their nominees for key ministry posts.
Two other opposition parties, the Industrialists and the National Democratic Party, are also backing Gamkrelidze.