GEORGIA: PROTESTS CONTINE TO DWINDLE, BUT NO END

C O N F I D E N T I A L TBILISI 000842

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/01/2019
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL GG
SUBJECT: GEORGIA: PROTESTS CONTINE TO DWINDLE, BUT NO END
IN SIGHT

REF: TBILISI 827

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


1. (SBU) Summary: Non-parliamentary opposition leaders
addressed a crowd of about 1500 in front of Parliament on
Thursday, April 30 and announced their plan to picket the
Public Broadcasters Building starting at 9:00 am on May 1.
Nino Burjanadze stated that the opposition needed to take
more effective steps but did not elaborate. She also said
that if the protests fail, Georgia will become a
dictatorship. The Parliament, Public Broadcasters Building,
State Chancellery, and Rustaveli Avenue all remain blocked by
protesters although foot traffic is allowed to pass. The
Prime Minister told the Ambassador that the going price to
hire a person to stay overnight in a cell has dropped off.
EU Special Representative Semneby returned to Tbilisi May 1.
End Summary.


2. (C) Comment: Both in their public and private comments,
non-parliamentary leaders are alleging that the public
(including the Diplomatic Corps) is not "getting the message"
and does not evaluate current events through the same prism
they do. The non-parliamentary opposition is arguing that
this is because of media manipulation or GoG oppression
rather than a rejection of the message itself. Among the
non-parliamentary opposition, there seems to be a growing
sense that the protests are not going to lead to President
Saakashvili's resignation, but there is no agreement on next
steps. We are continuing to push for dialogue and are urging
non-parliamentary leaders to focus their demands on issues
short of Saakashvili's resignation. End Comment.

Small Protest Again


3. (C) Embassy observers estimate Thursday's crowd at
approximately 1500 protesters. Local businessmen are
complaining to us about the smell from human excrement and
having to clean drug paraphernalia off the street every
morning. Nothing has changed regarding the protests over the
last week, although non-parliamentary opposition staged a
rally in front of the Public Broadcasters Building early
Friday morning, May 1, which gathered about 300-500
protesters. No other plan was announced, and Saakashvili's
resignation was again demanded by non-parliamentary leaders.
Embassy contacts are increasingly expressing their
frustration at the protesters. The Prime Minister told the
Ambassador on April 30, that the going price for those
staying overnight in the cells has fallen way off. He said
that protesters are being paid 25 GEL to stay in a cell at
the Chancellery and 30-35 GEL at the Parliament.

GoG Still Willing to Negotiate


4. (C) Parliamentary Speaker Bakradze was scheduled to meet
April 30 with Irakli Alasania (Alliance),but Alasania called
off the meeting. GoG officials told us they hope the meeting
will occur Friday night. EU representative Peter Semneby is
in Tbilisi and expects to meet with a number of leaders.
Semneby told Ambassador that he will push non-parliamentary
leaders to adjust their demands and accept a dialogue.
Semneby agreed with the Ambassador that the GoG seemed
legitimately ready to have a serious dialogue, although he
was unsure how many in the non-parliamentary opposition felt
the same. According to Semneby, Alasania had expressed his
desire to break with the non-parliamentary opposition,
although noted that Alasania felt like he needed political
cover and would be attacked viciously by the
non-parliamentary opposition. (Embassy Comment: We agree
Qthat Alasania is looking for a way out; however, we have
little indication that any other non-parliamentary figure is
currently ready to make a similar jump to provide him
"cover". The Ambassador was due to meet Nino Burjanadze on
May 1 to urge her to engage in serious dialogue. End
Comment.)
TEFFT