Rose Revolution #2

[Azad]

Interesting video on the events in Georgia.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WKdLea3GIE

[Armenian]

Re: Rose Revolution #2

This might actually prove to be a "Borsch Revolution" after all. More evidence that Saakashvili's time in Georgia is up. Now, the EU is distancing themselves from him as well:

Armenian

************************************************** ****************

NATO does not want to spoil relations with Russia over Georgia - NATO diplomats

26 June 2007, Moscow: NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and Russian President Vladimir Putin commemorating the fifth anniversary of the NATO-Russia Council, and the tenth of the Founding Act on Mutual Relations

NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer's harsh criticism of the crackdown of peaceful opposition protests in Tbilisi and the introduction of the state of emergency in the country are proof that NATO is unwilling to sour relations with Russia, NATO diplomats told Interfax. NATO's stated disagreement with the actions of Georgian authorities will not help Georgia's bid to join the alliance, which is the overarching goal of Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, a NATO diplomat said. Scheffer said on Thursday that "the state of emergency and the closure of media agencies in Georgia, with which the alliance is in an intensive dialogue, is a subject of particular concern, because this is not in line with NATO values."

Source: http://www.interfax.ru/e/B/politics/...issue=11903964

A victory for Russia's secret war as Georgian leader calls election

Russia has scored a tactical victory in its long-term strategic battle with Western-leaning Georgia after a clumsy and brutal crackdown on the opposition by the leader of the "rose revolution" in the former Soviet republic, President Mikheil Saakashvili.

President Saakashvili, facing his biggest crisis since sweeping to power in a peaceful revolution four years ago, yielded yesterday to an opposition demand by calling a presidential election on 5 January, instead of next autumn, after his government was universally condemned for heavy-handed police tactics against protesters that left 250 people injured. Television images showed opposition demonstrators being chased, kicked and beaten by riot police after the government moved to end five days of peaceful protests by up to 50,000 people.

But it remains to be seen whether Mr Saakashvili's announcement will be sufficient to defuse the crisis and save his presidency. Troops patrolled the capital, Tbilisi, yesterday after the President, a US-trained lawyer who has been accused of becoming increasingly autocratic, ordered a two-week state of emergency on Wednesday night and sent armed troops to shut down the two main opposition television stations. Staff had guns held to their heads. Under the emergency, only state-run outlets may broadcast news and schools have been closed until next week. Rallies have been banned.

Mr Saakashvili said he regretted the use of force, but justified the emergency measures by accusing Russia of mounting a coup behind the scenes. "Russian special services have stepped up their activities in Georgia," he said in a televised address several hours after riot police using truncheons, rubber bullets, water cannons and tear gas dispersed protesters calling for his resignation.

"A country which has a lot of money and expertise has engaged a machine of lies and a mechanism of provocations," he said, before announcing the expulsion of three Russian diplomats. Russia retaliated swiftly yesterday by expelling three Georgian diplomats from Moscow.

Georgian state television broadcast on Wednesday evening what it said was a taped conversation between opposition leaders and Russian embassy officials, in an apparent attempt to back up the official accusation that the opposition was being manipulated by Moscow. Georgia's relations with Moscow have long been tense because of the republic's decision to seek membership of Nato and the European Union. The Kremlin has shown signs of paranoia as countries which it had traditionally seen as its backyard – ranging from Ukraine to the Baltic states – have joined Western strategic organisations or announced the intention of doing so.

Mr Saakashvili's tactics drew a strong condemnation yesterday from Nato, which will consider Georgian membership at a meeting in Bucharest next April. "The imposition of emergency rule, and the closure of media outlets in Georgia, a partner with which the alliance has an intensified dialogue, are of particular concern and not in line with Euro-Atlantic values," the Nato secretary general, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, said in a statement.

The EU presidency urged all parties to "exercise the necessary restraint and refrain from using language and actions that could further deepen the political crisis". Moscow said the violent crackdown had "evidently shown what democracy Georgia-style is" and appealed to the United Nations and the Council of Europe to pressure Georgia to stop using violence. Russia denied it had anything to do with the unrest in Tbilisi and accused Mr Saakashvili of trying to distract attention from domestic problems.

While the international reaction against the Georgian measures will suit the Kremlin, Russian direct involvement in the latest events remained speculative last night. Although Russia has a history of covert – but blatant – interference in Georgia, diplomats said there was as yet no proof that this was the case in the Tbilisi unrest. At a meeting yesterday with Georgia's Foreign Minister, EU ambassadors were given details of the taped conversation between two Russian diplomats and opposition leaders. "That's not proof," said a diplomat present at the meeting. "That is something that diplomats do all the time." The envoy added: "We've not seen anything else."

Other diplomats said that Mr Saakashvili may have other confidential material that he may share in order to prove Russian involvement. However, the mass protests organised by the opposition, a disparate alliance of 10 parties grouping pro-Western Georgians with die-hard Soviet nostalgics, appeared to be a genuine popular movement, with the opposition capitalising on widespread discontent with rising prices and economic hardship.

Speaking in Brussels, the deputy defence minister, Batu Kutelia, told Reuters that his government had "clear evidence collected by our special services of direct financial aid and directives from Moscow. This evidence has been collected and will be distributed to the wider international community. We have evidence that directives have been made to proceed with the riots and to proceed with the overthrow of the government. I have names and particularly visible evidence of specific transfers of money and commands."

The opposition alliance had been holding demonstrations outside parliament since 2 November demanding early elections and an amendment to the electoral code to secure a greater number of opposition seats in parliament. Negotiations with government representatives were in their early stages when Mr Saakashvili ordered the crackdown, tarnishing his democratic credentials. "He over-reacted just when negotiations were getting started. He panicked," said one Western observer in Tbilisi. "It's a great shame."

The US and European governments have been largely sympathetic to the Georgian government, which has set out on a road of democratic reform and a market economy, despite a trade embargo imposed by Russia that backs regional separatist movements inside the republic as part of what is seen as attempts to destabilise the Saakashvili government. But the President's tough reaction to suppress the demonstrations were a chilling reminder for Georgians of Soviet-style tactics, recalling in particular the Soviet army's violent suppression of a peaceful opposition protest in April 1989, using toxic gas.

Source: http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/article3143254.ece

[Armenian]

Re: Rose Revolution #2

Or perhaps a "Kosher Revolution"... Is Armenia the only former Soviet Republic who's oligarchs are not Jooz? The next few months in Georgia will be interesting.

Armenian

************************************************** ***************

Georgian billionaire says will run for president

Georgian billionaire and opposition financier Badri Patarkatsishvili said on Saturday he would run for president in January's election despite being accused of plotting a coup. Patarkatsishvili is one of the highest profile opposition figures in Georgia, a former Soviet republic that is experiencing one of its worst political crises since a civil war in the early 1990s. "I have decided to participate in the presidential election," Patarkatsishvili said in an e-mailed statement. "Mr (President Mikhail) Saakashvili's regime has completely discredited itself in the eyes of the Georgian people who will never again entrust it its destiny." On Wednesday police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at anti-government protesters to drive them off the streets after six days of demonstrations. President Mikhail Saakashvili then imposed a state of emergency and accused Russia of destabilizing the country, charges Moscow denies. On Friday, the Prosecutor-General's office accused Patarkatsishvili of plotting a coup and sought to question him. The silver-haired mustachioed Patarkatsishvili is not in Georgia but is funding part of the former Soviet state's opposition movement which accuses Saakashvili of corruption and economic mismanagement. "My election slogan will be 'Georgia without Saakashvili is Georgia without Terror'," he wrote.

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/newsO...88987920071110

In related news:

Badri Patarkatsishvili doesn't want "to be the only Georgian of Jewish ancestry who would defend the Russian democracy alone"

Tbilisi, 23 March 2006 (Media.ge - website) - Well-known Georgian businessman of xxxish ancestry, owner of Georgian TV station "Imedi" Badri Patarkatsishvili doesn't rule out the possibility of selling Russian publishing-house "Kommersant" if there is a good proposal. "If anyone offers me a sum that is much higher than the publishing-house's real market price I'll review that proposal as a businessman " Badri Patarkatsishvili told Russian news agency Interfax while commenting on the information about the possible selling of "Kommersant" that was disseminated by some Russian media outlets. Patarkatsishvili doesn't want "to be the only Georgian of xxxish ancestry who would defend the Russian democracy alone". According to him, at this stage his only objective is to increase the publishing-house's assets and he isn't currently involved in any negotiations about its selling. One month ago Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky, who's wanted by Russian law enforcers, sold his assets including the publishing house's shares to his business partner Badri Patarkatsishvili. Patarkatsishvili was himself wanted by the Russian authorities in 2001; however, he had Georgian citizenship and found refuge in his homeland. The Georgian General Prosecutor Office refused to hand over Patarkatsishvili to the Russian law enforcers.

Source: http://www.caucaz.com/home_eng/depeches.php?idp=943

[Armenian]

Re: Rose Revolution #2

Opposition leaders as anti-Russia as Saakashvili himself

Ian Bremmer, the leading American expert on CIS affairs, the President of influential Eurasia Group consulting firm speaks on his attitude to ongoing crisis in Georgia in an interview to RIA Novosti New York Bureau Chief Dmitry Gornostaev. According to Mr.Bremmer, one should expect to see a higher degree of American criticism for obvious democratic shortcomings in Georgia. He also believes, that Washington will focus on persuading President Saakashvili to lift the state of emergency declared by him earlier this week.

- Mr.Bremmer, what is your attitude towards the motions taken by the President Mikhail Saakashvili at one end, and the opposition at another end, including shutting the TV news coverage, declaring the state of emergency and violent clashes between the police and the protesters?

- The government's extreme reaction to the protests has strengthened the opposition's anti-government drive and made it more difficult for Georgia's western allies to stand by the government. While the democratically-elected Georgian government remains the legitimate authority, support for Saakashvili has undoubtedly deteriorated both domestically and internationally.

- What is the difference between the perception in the US of the anti-Saakashvili demonstrations which are taking place now, and the street protests that led Saakashvili to power four years ago?

- I think it's safe to say that the two are connected only so far as the recent protests were the largest anti-government protests since the Rose Revolution and the fact that the opposition timed the protests to coincide with the 4th anniversary of the revolution. The US, although obviously frustrated with recent events in Georgia and the government's moves, still strongly supports the Georgian government and Saakashvili.

- How would you comment on Mr.Saakashvili's saying that it's Russia that was fomenting the crisis in Georgia including the street protests of the opposition?

- Saakashvili's ongoing allegations that Russia is fomenting civil unrest
will exacerbate existing tensions with Moscow and with the
separatists. Meanwhile, the Russian embargo on Georgian imports continues to hurt the economy and prospects for long-term economic growth will not
improve without a resumption in trade with what was once Georgia's largest
trading partner. The government's efforts to discredit the opposition by accusing it of being aligned with Russia and subsequent moves to continue this line of reasoning, which includes recalling the Georgian ambassador to Moscow and expelling Russian embassy officials from Tbilisi, are unlikely to make any headway. In fact, the opposition parties have already launched a diplomatic offensive in the West, proclaiming in a joint manifesto that their political goals include improving relations with the EU and joining NATO. The opposition leaders have been just as anti-Russia in their stated foreign policy goals as Saakashvili himself. Moreover, the opposition is bankrolled by the wealthy oligarch Badri Patarkatsishvili, a close friend of outspoken anti-Kremlin dissident Boris Berezovsky.

- Could you forecast the steps that the US Administration might undertake towards the crisis parties in Georgia or toward Russia in the situation?

- The US supports the move to hold early presidential elections which has
diffused the political crisis and will keep Tbilisi relatively calm. The US will focus now on getting Saakashvili to lift the state of emergency. After the recent series of events, the US will be much more closely monitoring events on the ground and we should expect to see a higher degree of criticism for obvious democratic shortcomings than we have in the past.

- Will this crisis affect in any way the relations between the US and Georgia?

- Georgia remains a very important US ally and relaitons will not be harmed in the long run. The sequence of events between Georgia and Russia with Georgia recalling its ambassador to Moscow and expelling Russian embassy officials, following my similar moves from Russia risks worsening already poor relations with Russia.

Source: http://en.rian.ru/analysis/20071112/87612671.html

[freakyfreaky]

Re: Rose Revolution #2

Interesting article indicating the West's failure in backing individuals to help promote democracy in Georgia and the Caucasus region touching on the collapse of current leadership with a good historical analysis.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/11/12/opinion/edalmond.php?WT.mc_id=rssfrontpage