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

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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