CEE News

Georgian Opposition Halts Protests

Friday, Nov. 09, 2007

(TBILISI, Georgia) — Georgian opposition leaders said Friday they would end streets protests against President Mikhail Saakashvili after he called for an early presidential election for January.

Far fewer police and security troops patrolled the streets of central Tbilisi — where riot troops clashed with anti-government protesters earlier in the week. The capital's main avenue reopened for automobile traffic and pedestrians Friday.

In an effort to defuse the worst political crisis during his four years in office, Saakashvili offered minor concessions Thursday to the opposition, which is demanding electoral changes that will grant it a greater political role.

Under sharp criticism from the West — and from Russia — he called the snap election for Jan. 5 and also promised to quickly lift a state of emergency.

"The president's speech was equal to resignation," said Salome Zurabishvili, a former foreign minister who now heads the Georgia's Way opposition party.

Opposition leaders said they would stop street protests as they began discussions to unite around a single candidate to run against Saakashvili. But most observers believed the fragmented opposition lacks the time and resources to mount a serious challenge.

"We have no plans to take to the streets and organize demonstrations because dialogue (with the authorities) has already begun," said Georgy Khaindrava, a former government minister and now a leader of the National Council on United Opposition.

The crackdown on demonstrators and the state of emergency deeply shocked many Georgians. But while Saakashvili's already sliding popularity is likely to take a toll, he can still be expected to win a second term.

Many Georgians support his efforts to shake off Russia's influence and take the small Caucasus nation into the European Union and NATO, but critics also accuse him of sidestepping the rule of law and failing to move fast enough to spread growing wealth. The average monthly pension remains at about $30.

The disillusionment fed the latest rounds of protests, which ended Wednesday when riot police fired tear gas, water cannons and rubber bullets against anti-government demonstrators.

Nearly 600 people sought medical treatment after the clashes, including two dozen police officers, and 32 protesters were detained.

Saakashvili accused Moscow of fomenting the unrest and expelled three Russian diplomats. Russia, which denied the accusations, responded by expelling three Georgian diplomats.

The police violence, the hundreds of troops on the streets and the banning of all news broadcasts except those on state-controlled television drew sharp criticism from the West.

The United States criticized the state of emergency order and NATO's top official warned that Georgia's aspirations to join the alliance may be jeopardized.

Saakashvili's televised address Thursday to announce the early presidential election appeared to be an attempt to respond to the criticism and ease tensions while retaining his political clout.

He proposed simultaneously holding a referendum on when to have the next parliamentary elections. The elections had been moved back to late 2008, but the opposition has demanded that they be held earlier in the year as originally scheduled.

Rustavi 2 TV, which has been supportive of Saakashvili's government, was broadcasting some programs Friday, but was waiting for the state of emergency to be lifted to resume news broadcasts.

The political crisis is the worst he has faced since being ushered into power almost four years ago after peaceful street protests known as the Rose Revolution.