GEORGIA: PROTESTS TO CONTINUE DESPITE HANDSHAKE -

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TBILISI 000816 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/28/2019 TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL GG SUBJECT: GEORGIA: PROTESTS TO CONTINUE DESPITE HANDSHAKE - MEETING WITH PATRIARCH REF: TBILISI 809 Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOHN F. TEFFT. REASONS: 1.4 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Protests were largely abandoned on Tuesday, April 28 as non-parliamentary leaders attended church services for the day of reconciliation. Crowds in front of Parliament were estimated at 500 or less. At a church service led by the Patriarch, that only Irakli Alasani (Alliance) from the non-parliamentary opposition attended; President Saakashvili and Alasania shook hands prompting much speculation as to its significance. Saakashvili reiterated his willingness to engage in dialogue. Other non-parliamentary leaders attended church services at another location and then held a hastily arranged audience with the Patriarch, also attended by Alasania. After that meeting, they again stated publicly that they would continue the protests and rejected dialogue. Comments critical of the non-parliamentary opposition by Council of Europe Secretary General Terry Davis received a harsh response by many non-parliamentary leaders. With the Prime Minister's office at the Chancellery surrounded by "cells," the Government is holding its weekly Wednesday meeting in Kutaisi. The Ambassador will attend a meeting arranged by the EU Ambassadors with non-parliamentary opposition leaders on April 30. End Summary. ¶2. (C) Comment: Alasania's presence at the service seems to have caught other non-parliamentary leaders off guard. The ultimate significance of the handshake between President Saakashvili and Alasania, if any, is still unknown; however, the symbolic nature of the event was obvious to all. The question now is whether the hard-line faction, led by Nino Burjanadze (Democratic Movement - United Georgia),is losing control over events. Lashing out at Terry Davis, rejecting dialogue after a meeting with the Patriarch who has been publicly encouraging it, and comparing Saakashvili to Hitler are all troubling signs that at least certain members of the non-parliamentary opposition are becoming more radicalized in response to an increasingly grim outlook for their political fortunes. End Comment. As Always - Protests Continue ¶3. (C) A scheduled April 28 concert was canceled with non-parliamentary opposition leaders saying that they would suspend the protests until April 29 to attend church services as requested by the Patriarch. A group of roughly five hundred gathered in front of Parliament. A small number of protesters remained in front of the Public Broadcasters Building in cells as well as the Presidential Administration and State Chancery blocking traffic. Another "meeting" was called for Wednesday at 5pm to announce the plan for the day. Some leaders suggested creating cell cities in the regions, some have suggested widening protests in Tbilisi, others have said little other than expressing confidence that Saakashvili is feeling the pressure and soon will resign. It is clear that the non-parliamentary opposition has not come to any consensus on its next step and has been in a status quo holding pattern for the better part of a week. ¶4. (SBU) With regard to the reports of a Republican party activist being beaten in Kakheti, non-parliamentary opposition activists continued to call for an investigation, demanding that the regional governor be interviewed about the case. The Ministry of Internal Affairs issued a statement noting that they were looking into the case, but raised questions about the report noting that the alleged victim had been observed earlier in the day purchasing gasoline in a Qbeen observed earlier in the day purchasing gasoline in a bottle which was suspicious given the fact that his car had been burned. The bottle was apparently found in the vicinity of the burned car. The Handshake - Alasania Calls for Dialogue - Patriarch Providing Cover? ¶5. (C) The Patriarch had called on all political forces to attend a day of reconciliation service at Holy Trinity Cathedral. Previously, non-parliamentary leaders announced their intention to boycott the service. Eka Beselia (United Georgia) said non-parliamentary leaders would not allow "the authorities to use these great religious events for their political PR campaigns." Leaders were apparently unaware that Irakli Alasania (Alliance) had decided to attend the service without them. (Embassy Note: Alasania attended the service without fellow Alliance members David Gamkrelidze (New Rights) and David Usupashvili (Republicans). End Note.) After calling for political reconciliation, President Saakashvili shook Alasania's hand and then proceeded to shake hands of many other politicians in attendance including parliamentary opposition members. Afterwards, Saakashvili said he was willing to engage in dialogue. Notably, AlasanQ TBILISI 00000816 002 OF 002 indicated that he was ready for dialogue and did not mention any demand for Saakashvili's resignation. ¶6. (C) Apparently, after learning that Saakashvili and Alasania shook hands, the non-parliamentary opposition leaders requested an immediate audience with the Patriarch. (Embassy Comment: The handshake with Saakashvili at a church service in which the Patriarch presided is a powerful political image. The Patriarch is by far the most respected public figure in Georgia. The request for a meeting seems to be an attempt to somehow neutralize the political fallout from the handshake "blessed" by the Patriarch. End Comment.) The non-parliamentary opposition's agenda for its meeting with the Patriarch is unclear. Public statements by Nino Burjanadze, Levan Gachechiladze, and others did not characterize the meeting. Each issued statements saying the non-parliamentary opposition would continue to protest and not soften their demands which appeared to fly in the face of the Patriarch's public call for dialogue and unity. Non-parliamentary leaders have given no public reaction to Alasania's statement saying that he supported dialogue, nor any comment on the handshake. Another Diplomat Needs "Reeducation" ¶7. (C) Council of Europe Secretary General Terry Davis spoke at a news conference in Strasbourg and roundly condemned the non-parliamentary opposition when asked to comment on Georgia. Davis said that "it's much better to discuss and settle disagreements in the Parliament not in the street." He criticized the non-parliamentary opposition saying that he did not understand why the non-parliamentary opposition did not take their seats in Parliament. Nino Burjanadze responded that Davis needed "to look deeper into the situation". Burjanadze then cited instances of an MOIA official throwing a water balloon (in what appears to have been a dumb joke aimed at MOIA personnel) and a protester being hit by a BB gun (no evidence of MOIA involvement) asking rhetorically if Terry Davis and the citizens of Great Britain would have ever tolerated such oppressive actions. Not to be outdone, Salome Zourabichvili (Georgia's Way) said she did not think Terry Davis or other Englishmen would have "offered to anyone a dialogue with Hitler" apparently unaware of the Munich Agreement. Koba Davitashvili (Party of the People) called the GoG a gang of criminals that could not be dealt with in normal fashion. Other non-parliamentary leaders condemned Davis' remarks. TEFFT