GEORGIA: PROTESTERS BLOCK MAJOR THOROUGHFARES,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TBILISI 000735 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/25/2018 TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL GG SUBJECT: GEORGIA: PROTESTERS BLOCK MAJOR THOROUGHFARES, FRUSTRATIONS BUILD REF: TBILISI 728 Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOHN F. TEFFT. REASONS: 1.4 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (C) Summary: Protests on April 14 again drew a modest crowd of 4000 - 6000 protesters. About 500 protesters blocked a major avenue in the heavily trafficked Vake district near Tbilisi State University. At the direction of Levan Gachechiladze (former presidential candidate) and David Gamkrelidze (New Rights - Alliance),protesters set up 5-10 cages representing jail cells each containing three to four protesters in front of the Public Broadcasters which blocked another major artery during the evening commute. Eyewitnesses reported that many drivers were irate at the blockages. Ultimately, the protesters removed the cages from the street. Small numbers of protesters remained at the Presidential Residence and in front of Parliament. End Summary. ¶2. (C) Embassy Comment: The overall opinion expressed at the OSCE Ambassador's Working Group on Tuesday was one of frustration at the protest organizers even before the escalation took place. We are hearing more and more reports from credible sources that the protesters are being compensated for their efforts. MOIA representatives believe the non-parliamentary opposition has chosen a course of further escalation and confrontation in the hope to spark some sort of larger demonstration or provocation. Equally troubling is that non-parliamentary opposition leaders are carrying out more radical actions such as establishing a tent city and blocking roads with metal cages, then leaving the scene, essentially abdicating responsibility for what happens after the escalation. Despite the small numbers of protesters and growing public frustration, the non-parliamentary opposition is still apparently unwilling to accept that President Saakashvili will not resign or accept any face-saving way out of their increasingly untenable position. End Comment. Protests Still Meager - Opposition Tries Escalation ¶3. (C) The crowd yesterday was estimated at 4000-6000 protesters at 4 pm in front of Parliament. From there roughly 1500-2000 made their way down Rustaveli avenue to Chavchavadze Avenue (a major artery in the Vake district) where they joined a few hundred protesters to block traffic. Embassy observers noted that many drivers were extremely irritated by the blockage of the road, which led to major gridlock for the evening traffic hour. Another much smaller group made their way towards the Presidential Residence while the rest remained in front of Parliament. A group of 1000 or so protesters staged in front of former Defense Minister Okruashvili's former political party office and then made their way towards the Presidential Residence in Avlabari. As of 6:30 pm, estimates were 800 protesters at Parliament; 400-500 at the Presidential Residence; 1500 blocking Chavchavadze Avenue; and 200 at the Public Broadcasters attempting to block the road. Some of the protesters at the Chavchavadze location proceeded to move toward the Public Broadcasters at 7:00 pm to join the protest there. ¶4. (C) The protesters at the Public Broadcasters brought 5-10 metal cages and blocked Kustava avenue (another major artery in the Vere district). Each cage (simulating a jail cell in which protesters say Saakashvili has imprisoned Georgia) was filled with 3-4 protesters. Gachechiladze and Gamkrelidze organized the rally at the Public Broadcasters, QGamkrelidze organized the rally at the Public Broadcasters, and Gamkrelidze explained that they were forced to block traffic because the Public Broadcaster was not devoting enough air time to the protests. (Embassy Note: The Public Broadcaster has devoted significant air time to the protests and non-parliamentary leaders alike including carrying Gamkrelidze's speech that day live. However, it has declined to provide extensive continuous live coverage. End Note.) After placing cages in the street, in violation of their protest permit, the leaders left the scene. MOIA representatives told Poloff that this clearly represented an escalation and they believed that the non-parliamentary opposition was looking for some sort of confrontation (even with motorists) to provoke a government response. The MOIA let the cages stand which were eventually removed, with the advice of Alasania, by protesters in the early morning. Gamkrelidze announced that protests would continue all across Tbilisi to include the Mayor's Office while Gachechiladze spoke of numerous protests cells spread across the city. Parliamentary Opposition - Not Playing Ball ¶5. (C) The Christian Democratic Movement (CDM) introduced a proposal for compromise which was quickly attacked by the TBILISI 00000735 002 OF 002 non-parliamentary opposition. CDM's proposal included calling for the resignation of the Chairmen of the Constitutional Court and Central Election Committee; returning Imedi TV to Badri Patarkatsishvili's family; licensing the broadcast of Maestro TV across Georgia; replacing the current board of the Public Broadcaster; and setting up various monitoring committees to evaluate media coverage and to evaluate complaints about the police and repression of democratic rights. The non-parliamentary opposition quickly dismissed the proposal with Nino Burjanadze saying "it was too late to discuss anything but Saakashvili's resignation", and Eka Beselia (United Georgia) saying the proposal seemed fine but it would not deter them from calling for Saakashvili's resignation. Salome Zourabichvili (Georgia's Way) went a step further calling CDM leader Giorgi Targamadze the same as "Misha," and a party of one financed by the MOIA. (Embassy Comment: In spite of the personal attacks often leveled at Targamadze by non-parliamentary opposition leaders, numerous sources have told us Targamadze is being significantly pressured by the same group to join the protests and call for Saakashvili's resignation. End Comment.) ¶6. (C) Vice Speaker of the Parliament Paata Davitaia (We Ourselves) told Poloff that he was being contacted by non-parliamentary opposition leaders asking for his support but he has told them in less than delicate terms that he is uninterested. Davitaia detailed the arrogance of a number of the non-parliamentary opposition leaders who have publicly mocked him for collusion with the government, but are now asking for him to join them. Davitaia, who chaired the parliamentary committee which investigated the August conflict with Russia, was initially harshly criticized for taking his seat in Parliament and then was criticized for being a dupe for Saakashvili for his role in the commission. In addition, Davitaia explained for us the payment system the non-parliamentary opposition was using to get protesters out in the street. Davitaia said the non-parliamentary opposition was concerned with the look of the crowd so they are began paying younger people 60 lari (USD 40) per day (while most protesters are reportedly being paid 20 lari -- USD 13 -- per day). (Embassy Note: This information corresponds to information we are receiving from numerous sources. End Note.) Davitaia said the money to pay for the new non-parliamentary offices, the regional offices, flags, was obviously coming from Russia. OSCE Ambassador's Working Group - Frustration Abounds ¶7. (C) The Czech Ambassador stated the EU position that it endorsed direct dialogue between parties but would not mediate. The Czech Ambassador expressed his view that the non-parliamentary opposition had nowhere near the numbers it needed to force the GoG to do anything, a sentiment echoed by most in the group. When the question of a non-parliamentary opposition "Plan B" was raised, the British representative said "their Plan B is doing the same thing as always and hoping the GoG somehow screws up." Another Ambassador expressed his anger that protesters had gone to Saakashvili's mother's apartment and taunted her. (Embassy Note: We had not previously heard of this incident. End Note.) Others expressed concern that the protest in front of the Presidential Residence was blocking the gates and not allowing custodians and other workers access to their jobs. Qallowing custodians and other workers access to their jobs. Others reported taunting of the workers by protesters which all agreed was inappropriate. The consensus was frustration with the non-parliamentary opposition's inability to coalesce into a rational coherent group and the decision that, until it does, there is no role for the OSCE Diplomatic Corps to mediate. TEFFT