The situation in Tbilisi, where on Saturday mass rivals began, is worsening every day. A radical major political force Georgian Party joined the coalition of the Pan-national Meeting and the United Georgia movements. Notwithstanding the Georgian Party’s head Irakly Okruashvili the actual leader of another Georgian revolution is Nino Burdzhandze. She gave an interview to VK and told about the developments.
- What can you say about the events which are taking place in Georgia at the moment?
- A revolution has begun in Georgia. On Saturday rival protests took place simultaneously in Tbilisi and Batumi. An immense number of people came outdoors notwithstanding governmental provocations. We demand real democracy in the country and free fair elections. The most important thing is impeachment of Mikhail Saakashvili.
- In 2009 similar rivals were carried out in Georgia, however, they didn’t lead to the president’s impeachment…
- There is a great difference between those and these rivals. In 2009 opposition representatives weren’t like-minded. Many of them betrayed the coalition and colluded with Saakashvili. Today 12 thousands of representatives of more than 800 thousand people in Georgia stated their mistrust to the president and decided on wide-scaled protest actions, which aimed at Saakashvili’s resign.
We have been working hard during several months to establish committees of civil disobedience in all regions of the country. Recently a major international organization has carried out a survey which has shown that only 15% of Georgian citizens consider themselves as happy.
However, the biggest threat is a wrong direction of development. Neo-bolshivism is reigning favor in Georgia now. In democracy development we have made many big steps back since 2003.
- But weren’t you one of the leaders of the Rose Revolution in 2003?
- It’s true. The first steps were right. However, 2007 was a crucial moment. Georgia had to choose whether to accept its mistakes or ignore them. Unfortunately, in 2008 Saakashvili remained at the position of the president and went on his wrong direction.
2008 was a year of high significance. After the war with Russia we lost any real chance of stable development, i.e. integration with Abkhazia and South Ossetia. We lost any prospect to become a normal democratic state.
- Are there any time limits for the protests? Could they last to May 26, when the military parade, devoted to Independent Day, will be held?
- First of all, these military parades show where we live actually. I haven’t heard about holding military parades with tanks when the war was lost, as well as 20% of the territory.
Secondly, we won’t tell media about our plans at the moment. Much depends on public activity and the governmental reaction. However, if the government to use force against us, we will respond adequately.
We have peaceful demonstrations with political demands: we want to live in a democratic country. We have no arms, only the truth.
Interview by Georgy Kalatozishvili, Tbilisi. Exclusively to VK.
