GEORGIA: OPPOSITION PROTESTERS INFLATE REGIONAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TBILISI 000786

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/CARC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/23/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM GG
SUBJECT: GEORGIA: OPPOSITION PROTESTERS INFLATE REGIONAL
TURNOUT

REF: TBILISI 769

Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOHN F. TEFFT FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (SBU) Summary: April 22 press reports that the radical
opposition mustered 600-plus vehicles from the regions to
join 30,000 protesters in front of Parliament were
exaggerated and incorrect. Embassy observers and Ministry of
Internal Affairs (MOIA) officials estimated no more than
5,000 protesters gathered on Rustaveli. MOIA counted 113
cars with protesters that came to Tbilisi from the regions.
Opposition leader Tina Khidasheli said on a national talk
show that the Alliance for Georgia would recruit more
supporters to come to Tbilisi on April 24. Protest leaders
erected more "cells" along Rustaveli and continued to block
Tbilisi's main traffic circle, Freedom Square (reftel). Some
protesters vandalized the entrance to the Ministry of
Economic Development. Minister of Education Nika Gvaramia
announced that although schools remain open, nearly 1,700
students are not attending due to entrances being blocked by
protesters. NGOs continue to circulate an appeal to both
sides to negotiate. The Government stated that it would take
no action against the protesters as long as they remained
peaceful. In a televised cabinet meeting, President
Saakashvili urged his government to continue focusing on
addressing the nation's economic difficulties and
implementing existing development plans. In a private
meeting, the Ambassador encouraged Irakli Alasania to find a
way to the negotiating table. End Summary.


2. (C) Comment: The radical leaders appear to be
incrementally escalating the situation, trying to provoke the
government into a reaction the opposition can exploit for PR
purposes. Thus far, the government has held steady in this
contest of nerves. By refusing to engage in any negotiation
or constructive action with any GOG officials, the radicals
are convincing more and more Georgians that they are not the
democrats they claim to be and are merely on a quest for
personal power. End Comment.

REPORTS OF PROTESTERS FROM REGION INACCURATE


3. (C) Protests led by the radical opposition dragged into
their 14th day on April 22 (reftel). Wildly inaccurate press
reports on April 22 claimed 600-plus vehicles from the
regions joined 30,000 protesters in front of Parliament,
repeated by several international media outlets including AP.
Embassy observers on the ground and MOIA officials
estimated no more than 5,000 protesters gathered on Rustaveli
at the height of the day's rally. MOIA counted 113 cars with
protesters that came to Tbilisi from the regions and
estimated they could have contained no more than 1,000 people
maximum. Reportedly, the National Forum party had
coordinated most of the cars; however, the Conservatives
posted a schedule on their website detailing when the convoy
would travel through various western cities so others could
join. Embassy observers noted that the convoy from Western
Georgia appeared larger, because the protesters were driving
slowly and not allowing other drivers to pass. This led to
many angry drivers honking their horns at the protesters'
cars.

OPPOSITION PLANS FOR MORE


4. (C) On the Georgian Public Broadcaster's (GPB) nationwide
evening talk show, Accents, Republican party activist Tina
Khidasheli claimed that the protesters from the regions would
stay for a week or so in Tbilisi. She said the Alliance
would recruit more participants from the regions on April 24.
Qwould recruit more participants from the regions on April 24.


MORE CELLS ARE ERECTED, BLOCK MAJOR SQUARE


5. (C) Meanwhile, the radical opposition leaders erected
additional "cells" on Freedom Square, the key traffic circle
in downtown Tbilisi. This enabled them to block a major
traffic route with few people. They continued to maintain a
token presence in front of the GPB office and the
Presidential Residence as well. On the morning of April 23,
some local residents nearby Freedom Square moved several
"cells" so that traffic could pass. Opposition members
replaced the "cells" after about an hour, again stopping
traffic. By the afternoon, more "cells" had extended the
blockage of Rustaveli by several hundred meters in the
opposite direction, near the Opera Theater.

SCHOOLS OPEN, PARENTS KEEP STUDENTS AWAY


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6. (U) Nationwide TV Rustavi-2 reported that nearly 1,700
students at Tbilisi School Number One -- which is directly
adjacent to Parliament -- have not attended class now for
more than a week due to the protests. Other schools near the
protests also have declining attendance. Education Minister
Gvaramia said all schools remain open, but parents are
keeping their children home to avoid the protesters. In
response, some opposition leaders offered to hold an extra
summer school session for the students after Saakashvili
resigns and they are in power.

NGOs CALL FOR DIALOGUE


7. (SBU) On April 17, a large number of reputable Georgian
NGOs issued a collective statement to all sides to negotiate
(statement emailed to EUR/CARC). They applauded the GOG for
showing restraint and allowing the protests to continue. The
statement also called on the GOG to investigate any crimes
(such as alleged beatings reported previously). Above all,
it appealed to both sides to address the important issues
facing the country through dialogue. To date, the opposition
has not acknowledged civil society's calls for constructive
negotiation, rather than only calling for Saakashvili's
resignation. (Note: Nana Kakabadze signed the statement on
behalf of her organization, Former Political Prisoners for
Human Rights. However, Kakabadze has been an active
participant -- not a speaker -- at the protests. A video on
www.civil.ge shows her posing in one of the cells. End note.)

SAAKASHVILI MAINTAINS GOVERNMENT FOCUS


8. (U) President Saakashvili held a televised cabinet meeting
on April 22. During the meeting he urged his ministers to
continue focusing on implementing the government's various
four-year development plans. These include energy, economic
development, agriculture, education, healthcare, and
infrastructure. Saakashvili pointed to the World Bank's
announcement this week of Georgia as a top economic reformer
as evidence of his policy's success. He said "in recent
weeks we have proven Georgia is a stable and sustainable
country, despite some attempts by internal and external
elements." He claimed his government's attention to
continuing economic development would help overcome
"unemployment triggered by the war and global crisis."
Senior Government leaders and MOIA officials continue to
maintain that they will take no action against the protesters
as long as the protests remain peaceful.

AMBASSADOR URGES ALASANIA TO ENGAGE IN DIALOGUE


9. (C) In an effort to understand the plan of the opposition
leaders, Ambassador met privately with Alliance for Georgia
leader Irakli Alasania on April 22. Alasania maintained he
wanted to engage in a dialogue with the government, but was
hesitant to separate himself from other protest leaders who
continue to agree on only one point for discussion with the
President: his resignation. The Ambassador urged him to find
a way to engage in a dialogue which would lead to a peaceful
end to the protests. Aasania said that he would continue
his discussions with the other protest leaders.
TEFFT