Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TBILISI735
2009-04-15 13:26:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tbilisi
Cable title:  

GEORGIA: PROTESTERS BLOCK MAJOR THOROUGHFARES,

Tags:  PGOV PHUM PREL GG 
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DE RUEHSI #0735/01 1051326
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 151326Z APR 09 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY TBILISI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1389
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
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).

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