GEORGIA: ALL RELATIVELY QUITE ON THE NOVEMBER 7

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TBILISI 001990 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/09/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM GG SUBJECT: GEORGIA: ALL RELATIVELY QUITE ON THE NOVEMBER 7 FRONT REF: A. 07 TBILISI 2762 ¶B. 07 TBILISI 2764 ¶C. 07 TBILISI 2771 ¶D. 07 TBILISI 2774 ¶E. 07 TBILISI 2777 ¶F. 07 TBILISI 2792 Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOHN R. BASS FOR REASONS: 1.4 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (C) Summary/Comment: The second anniversary of the November 7, 2007, GoG crackdown on protesters were marked by low-key, sparsely attended and relatively uneventful demonstrations. The mile-long protest march from the Georgian Public Broadcaster's station to Parliament proceeded peacefully with no GoG interference or noticeably increased police presence. Opposition leaders held a press conference to commemorate the event, but did not speak during the actual rallies. More moderate opposition leaders chose not participate. The lackluster participation at this commemoration of a major day for the opposition, a day used a year ago as a rallying cry against President Saakashvili, highlights the protest fatigue of the country. The lack of participation by more moderate opposition leaders who are engaged in dialogue with the GoG highlights their continuing commitment to formal engagement rather than street politics. However, this commitment may soon wane if the GoG is not willing to deliver on concrete democratic changes. End Summary/Comment. CALLING ON THE USG ¶2. (C) Two years ago police used force to disburse anti-government demonstrations and shut down the then-opposition controlled Imedi television station (ref A-F). In 2008, the opposition succeeded in bringing large numbers of protesters on to the streets in spite of cold, wet weather. This year, only the most radical opposition groups participated in the November 7 commemoration of the crackdown. Moderate opposition leaders including Irakli Alasania from the Alliance for Georgia and Giorgi Targamadze from the Christian Democrats did not participate. The main organizers of the rally, the political youth group "November 7," took part in this year's April-July protests and is reportedly led by former Minister of Conflict Resolution Goga Khaindrava. Since Khaindrava's resignation in July 2006, he has become vehemently anti-Saakashvili and a harsh critic of the United States policy toward Georgia. ¶3. (C) November 7, 2009, events kicked-off with a press conference at the Radisson Hotel in the center of Tbilisi. Salome Zourabichvili (Georgia's Way) began the program and was followed by other non-parliamentary opposition leaders including Nino Burjanadze (Democratic Movement-United Georgia) and Eka Beselia (United Movement for Georgia). Former January 2008 opposition presidential candidate Levan Gachechiladze from the United Opposition was in attendance, but did not speak. At the press conference the "Organizers of November 7" issued a verbal call on the U.S. Embassy in Georgia to "use every possible means to require the government of Georgia to fully implement (its commitments under) the U.S.-Georgia Charter on Strategic Partnership." Although Alasania did not participate in events, Alliance for Georgia did put out a statement calling on the GoG to: release "people detained on a political basis; stop the "oppression of those with differing views;" free the Georgian Public Broadcaster from "governmental influences;" return the Imedi television station "to its legal owner;" and establish a "democratic election environment." WHO RALLIED ¶4. (C) The protest march itself began with a rally at the Georgian Public Broadcasters (GPB) and ended approximately QGeorgian Public Broadcasters (GPB) and ended approximately one mile later at the Parliament. The rally outside the Georgian Broadcaster's was led by Nana Kakabadze from the NGO "Prisoners' Rights Protection." Only about 200-500 joined the rally outside the GPB. When addressing the crowd actress Nineli Chankvetadze even said "(d)o not be afraid, more people will join us, and after all, it is not a matter of the size." All the major channels provided brief coverage of the rally during their regular newscasts. Pro-opposition Maestro TV began broadcasting live, but quickly stopped and switched to a documentary film. When the march reached Parliament, approximately 1,000 activists were present. Te rally outside of Parliament lasted less than an hour and no opposition leader addressed the crowd. Young people wearing surgical masks and holding signs with slogans such as, "(h)e (Saakashvili) is not our president" lead the crowd. Opposition members estimated the crowd size at 5-7000 while Embassy observers estimate the crowd at its peak was around TBILISI 00001990 002 OF 002 ¶2000. The Ministry of Internal Affairs estimated that the rally reached about 4000 at its peak. BASS