GEORGIA: PROTESTERS TRY TO ENTER POLICE STATION,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TBILISI 000875 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/07/2019 TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL GG SUBJECT: GEORGIA: PROTESTERS TRY TO ENTER POLICE STATION, GOG RESPONDS REF: TBILISI 865 Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOHN F. TEFFT. REASONS: 1.4 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (C) Summary: Georgian non-parliamentary opposition protests turned violent, May 6 when Giorgi Gachechiladze (a pop singer known as "Utsnobi" - "Anonymous"),his brother Levan Gachechiladze and other radical opposition leaders lead a group of protesters from Parliament to Digomi police station to protest the detention of three activists being held in connection with the beating of a journalist on May 5. When non-parliamentary opposition leaders attempted to enter the police station by force, they were repelled and 29 people were injured including six policemen. According to press reports, there were several radical Georgian priests involved in clashes with police. Around midnight, protesters withdrew to Parliament where a number of speakers, including Nino Burjanadze and Irakli Alasania, denounced the police and GoG to a crowd of roughly 1000, although the press reported that Alasania specifically urged that there be no further violence. Reports that police used rubber bullets and that protesters at Parliament were arming themselves are not confirmed, but MOIA denies the reports and an embassy observer does not believe there was any shooting. The three activists were released early from pre-trial confinement May 7 at the request of the Georgian Orthodox Church, although the Deputy Public Defender said that the charges against them stand. The non-parliamentary opposition plans to begin gathering and announce further plans at some point the afternoon of May 7. End Summary. ¶2. (C) Comment: The protesters crossed a publicly known MoIA redline when they tried to enter a GoG building by force. Some details of the incident remain unclear, but the protesters' attempt to enter the police station by force was clearly unlawful. This was confirmed by Deputy Public Defender, Giorgi Chkheidze. Despite a tense environment, our assessment (based on watching TV footage and first hand observer accounts) is that the MoIA exercised restraint and remained inside the police station compound in a defensive posture, and did not take any further actions once protesters left the area. It is troubling that after the incident, rather than urging supporters to remain within a constitutional framework, non-parliamentary leaders openly threatened violence. The use of force by the police to protect the police building, at least initially, did not galvanize Georgians to rush to support the non-parliamentary opposition as many of them had expected. The Ambassador continues to urge dialogue and respect for the law; however, we are concerned that many of the radicals in the non-parliamentary opposition are committed to further confrontation and have decided to bring the protests to a violent end. We recommend that the Department issue a statement calling for respect for law and order, perhaps in conjunction with the EU. End Comment. Protesters Try to Enter Police Station ¶3. (C) On Wednesday, May 7, a group of about 500-1000 protesters, led by Giorgi Gachechiladze (Utsnobi),walked to the Digomi police station (located about two miles from the Embassy) where three activists were being held for beating a Public Broadcasting journalist. The group arrived at the police station at roughly 9 pm. Protesters reportedly waved sticks through the grates of the fence, shook the fence, taunted police officers, and demanded entry. According to Qtaunted police officers, and demanded entry. According to press reports, police responded by chanting "Misha, Misha". The protesters, led by Giorgi Gachechiladze, either breached or attempted to breach the fence and the police responded. Gachechiladze apparently climbed over the fence, made it inside, and was then forced to the ground by police. The press reports he suffered a broken rib. Other non-parliamentary opposition leaders including, Gia Maisashvili (Party of the Future),Zviad Dzidziguri (Conservatives),and Levan Gachechiladze were also injured when they apparently tried to enter the facility. ¶4. (C) At some point during the events, protesters started throwing objects at the riot police. Riot police may have responded by throwing objects back. Press reports say that Nino Burjanadze attempted to stop the protesters from engaging in violence, calling on protesters to "move away from the fence." During the confrontation, a group of radical priests appeared and got into brief scuffles with police officers. The Patriarchate told the Embassy that the priests involved belong to a splinter group, unaffiliated with the Patriarchate. After the protesters were stopped from entering the premises, the police and protesters disengaged although the protesters remained for an hour or two period thereafter. Non-parliamentary leaders alleged TBILISI 00000875 002 OF 002 that the police used rubber bullets although so far no evidence exists to support this claim and the MOIA denied it. (Embassy Note: An Embassy observer on the scene dismissed this claim. We note that the use of rubber bullets would have involved firearms whose discharge would have been obvious. End Note.) All told, 29 people were injured including six police officers. Notably, it seems most of the protesters did not follow their leaders and attempt to get over the fence. In addition, throughout the fracas, police remained on guard along the perimeter of the compound, and did not engage the protesters once they moved away from the fence. Back To Parliament - Threats Ensue ¶5. (C) After midnight, protests moved back to Parliament where a group of 1000-2000 remained to hear fiery anti-government speeches. Gubaz Sanikidze (National Forum) called Saakashvili a "maniac" and threatened police officers who attacked protesters at the police station. Sanikidze said that "we know your names, we know your addresses, but we will not read the list now; however, hours remain before we read this list and Georgia does not lack hunters." Eka Beselia (United Georgia) said that they were not obliged to tolerate illegal acts by the authorities. She repeated demands for Saakashvili's resignation. Koba Davitashvili (People's Party) gave an ultimatum to the government to release the three activists otherwise "we will set them free." None of non-parliamentary leaders acknowledged that it was the protesters who initiated the conflict. Irakli Alasania said it was "our joint duty to put an end to this violence." He followed up by saying that "we will not resort to violence and we demonstrated it today when the protesters arrived at the police station ... in response we have received bullets and blood." (Embassy Note: Alasania told the Ambassador privately by phone that there was no justification for attacking a police station. He criticized the radicals for marching to the police station without the consent of the rest of the non-parliamentary opposition. Once again, Alasania told the Ambassador that he would break with the non-parliamentary opposition and make an announcement on Thursday, May 7. End Note). The Day After ¶6. (C) The MoIA declined to use this opportunity to break up the larger protest sites in front of Parliament and the Public Broadcasters Building, instead voicing its position that it would allow protests to continue peacefully. The opposition said it will begin to gather at noon on May 7 and announce further plans at 5 pm local time. Early on May 7, at the request of the Patriarchate, the GoG released the three acivists being held for beating a journalist. The Patriarchate has issued no further clarifications as to why it intervened other than expressing its concern with the tense situation and its view that the release of the prisoners was important to defusing. At a May 7 MFA briefing to the Diplomatic Corps on May 7, Deputy FM Nalbandov reviewed the facts, but had no further information regarding the incident including whether charges had been filed against the three released activists and whether the activists had been treated well while in prison. Nalbandov urged the Diplomatic Community while issuing calls for dialogue to express to the opposition the importance of respecting the law and refraining from violent acts. ¶7. (SBU) Later on May 7, the MOIA issued a statement Q7. (SBU) Later on May 7, the MOIA issued a statement containing the details of the medical exams that the three detainees reportedly underwent after being arrested on My 5. The statement noted that all had small bruises and injuries when they were arrested. According to DFM Nalbandov, all three appeared healthy when they were released and in media interviews, none of the three alleged any mistreatment while in custody. However, one of the detainees later told journalists that he had been physically and verbally abused -- "they were hitting and kicking me" -- when he was arrested and taken to the police station. TEFFT