Legitimate answer to radical groups' protest

The tensions that had been building up in Georgia in the last few days
were released by mass clashes on Rustaveli Avenue. Two people were
killed: a police officer and an opposition supporter. 37 people were
injured.

Another Georgian tragedy appeared to be the result of the weakness,
disunity and unpopularity of the Georgian opposition. The initiators
of the protests were the People’s Assembly movement and its leader,
Nino Burdzhanadze. From November 2010, Burdzhanadze has stated many
times that in spring Georgia “will be free from Saakashvili’s regime.”

However, the People’s Assembly couldn’t agree on mutual activities
with other opposition forces. Even the Georgian Party, which is one of
the most radical in the country, didn’t cooperate with Burdzhanadze.
They have their own rival for the presidential position: Irakly
Okruashvili.

The authorities followed the developments and waited for the crucial
fight. Burdzhanadze overestimated her resources and underestimated the
police professionalism, which supported the president, who established
the police structure from the ground up.

The first disappointment came on May 21st, when, according to
Burdzhanadze’s plans, 50 thousand people were to gather on Liberty
Square. In reality there were less than 10 thousand people, mainly
middle-aged and the elderly. Young people ignored Burdzhanadze’s
calls.

On May 25 the opposition wanted to occupy the whole of Liberty Square,
but as there were only several thousand people Burdzhanadze had to
make her choice: to admit defeat or to foil the military parade on May
26. Thus, the opposition began an illegal protest on Rustaveli Avenue,
near the parliament building. Stopping the parade would have meant
defeat for Saakashvili, and Burdzhanadze could win. However, the
police actions were consolidated and professional and the revolution
failed.

Burdzhanadze hoped Western countries would condemn the use of force
against the participants in the protest. But the developments
confirmed to the international players that there is no alternative to
the current government of Georgia as yet.

Georgy Kalatozishvili, Tbilisi. Exclusively to VK.