GEORGIA: OPPOSITION ERECTS MORE "CELLS," PROTESTS'

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TBILISI 000795 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/CARC E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/24/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM GG SUBJECT: GEORGIA: OPPOSITION ERECTS MORE "CELLS," PROTESTS' IMPACT WIDENS REF: TBILISI 0786 Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOHN F. TEFFT FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Radical opposition protests continued on April 23 and leaders called upon their dwindling supporters to maintain their presence throughout the weekend. Despite cold rain and meager numbers, the opposition continued to erect more "cells" in the areas surrounding Parliament, the State Chancellery, and the Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB), choking off more streets. In addition to blocking traffic, the impact of the protests widened further as nearby businesses reported significant losses and three GPB Board members resigned. Mayor Ugulava announced April 24 that the city would clean the streets where the protesters are staying. A late night scuffle with police occurred when protesters rallied outside a cafe where the President was allegedly eating dinner. One policeman was injured. As Parliament is officially closed due to the protests, some committees have held recent meetings in the regions. End Summary. OBSERVATIONS FROM THE STREET ¶2. (SBU) During the 23 April protest, which began later in the afternoon than usual, Embassy observers noticed a distinct majority of the crowd as middle-aged, poor, male Georgians from the regions outside of Tbilisi. The areas surrounding the ostensible "base" for the protests, Rustaveli Avenue directly in front of Parliament, are increasingly covered in trash, with the side alleys now serving as receptacles for human waste. There does appear to be some attempt to control the trash buildup, with older provincial women sweeping the large quantities of trash into more distinct piles, but each the day the situation worsens as those protesters currently living on the streets or in the "cells" continue to remain there. When protesters walked from Parliament to the Georgian Public Broadcaster's office on Kostava Street April 23, the procession was met with cold stares and overt displays of annoyance from Tbilisi residents coming home from work or seeking their way through the downtown area. We estimate that fewer than 2,000 protesters converged during the day. STREETS BLOCKED, BUSINESSES CLOSED ¶3. (U) The opposition erected more "cells" on April 23, and have now blocked off significant portions of Rustaveli Avenue, the State Chancellery, and the significant arterial route Kostava Street that runs in front of the GPB. With only a few protesters manning some of the "cells," the opposition has increased the chokehold on traffic in the city with the metal frames. In response, schools remain open with few students (reftel) and increasing numbers of businesses along Rustaveli are closed. Embassy observers noted about half of the regular shops along Rustaveli near the protests were closed on April 24, and the lack of people conducting business in the area was easily noticeable. Georgia Today reported that Rustaveli Cinema has been closed since the April 19 Orthodox Easter due to the protests. According to the press, the cinema has canceled 140 screenings and incurred 50,000 GEL (30,000 USD) in losses to date. BUSINESSMEN UPSET ¶4. (C) Emboff spoke with the Vice President of GMT Group on April 24. GMT owns and operates the two Marriott hotels in Tbilisi; both are blocked off by the protesters' "cells" and experiencing significant slowdowns. He told us that most of the shops are closed due to fears of vandalism and reduced sales. The vice president, who has privately expressed his Qsales. The vice president, who has privately expressed his dissatisfaction with Saakashvili, expressed great frustration with the opposition and said he is ready "for the government to come in with batons and tear gas and get these people out of here." He added that currently his employees are washing the sidewalks at the Marriott Courtyard daily with bleach in order to cleanse them after the protesters use them as toilets. Both Marriott hotels are adding additional security lights. The businessman estimated the opposition has spent 100,000 USD for the iron and materials used in the "cells," and wondered who was paying for them. GPB BOARD MEMBERS RESIGN, KHAINDRAVA BLASTS REPORTER ¶5. (U) On April 23, three members of the GPB Board of Trustees resigned from the nine member board. In a vaguely-worded statement the three said their efforts to serve the board and the public were "fruitless under present TBILISI 00000795 002 OF 002 conditions." However, they said this "did not mean they were joining the oppositions' protests." GPB Chairman Levan Gakheladze said he regretted the decision by the three, because the board had accomplished much in the past year. Meanwhile, early in the morning on April 24, Goga Khaindrava led a few protesters at the GPB to call for GPB's director general to resign. When a GPB journalist covering the event asked Khaindrava if he wanted the position for himself, he angrily called her a "provocateur." LATE NIGHT SCUFFLES ¶6. (U) At approximately 2 am on April 24, several protesters approached a Tbilisi cafe where President Saakashvili was dining. When police blocked their approach, the noisy protest that ensued led to a brief scuffle with police. The police then cordoned off the area, and a police spokesman said that one officer was injured and taken from the scene, and one protester was arrested. Deputy Public Defender Giorgi Chkheidze observed the events. He refused to speculate on what happened, saying the incident must be investigated. In another incident, the MOIA has placed a video on its website which appears to show opposition leader Nino Burjanadze's husband Badri Bitsadze and her son Anzor Bitsadze, with a small group of activists near the GPB handing out large wooden sticks and bats from the back of an SUV. The MOIA claims the video was taped around 2 am. (Note: the video is available at police.ge. End note) PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES AT WORK IN THE REGIONS ¶7. (U) Due to the official closure of Parliament, several committees have met recently in the regions. This is currently on an ad-hoc basis, depending on the chairmen's decisions, according to a contact at Parliament. Such work arounds and outreach are likely to continue. TEFFT