2007 Georgian demonstrations

The 2007 Georgian demonstrations were a series of anti-government protests in Georgia. The demonstrations peaked on November 2, 2007, when 50,000-100,000 [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/03/world/europe/03tbilisi.html?_r=1&oref=slogin Thousands Rally in Capital Against Georgia President] , The New York Times] rallied in downtown Tbilisi, capital of Georgia.cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7082317.stm |title=Tear gas used on Georgia protest |publisher=bbc.co.uk |accessdate=2007-11-08 |date=2007-11-07] People protested against the allegedly corrupt government of president Mikheil Saakashvili. Protests triggered by detention of Georgian politician Irakli Okruashvili on charges of extortion, money laundering, and abuse of office during his tenure as defense minister of the country [ [http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2007/09/2D3437D8-DFF1-4E8B-8411-7B7738FA60E3.html Former Defense Minister Detained In Georgia] . Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. September 27, 2007.] were organized by the National Council, an ad-hoc coalition of ten opposition parties, and financed by the media tycoon Badri Patarkatsishvili. [ [http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=16119 Patarkatsishvili Pledges to Finance Protest Rallies] . Civil Georgia. 2007-10-28.] Demonstrations occurred both in September and November 2007 and were initially largely peaceful. The protests went downhill by November 6, 2007, but turned violent the next day when the police, using heavy-handed tactics, including tear gas and water cannon, unblocked Rustaveli Avenue, Tbilisi's main boulevard, dislodged the protesters from the territory adjoining to the House of Parliament, and prevented the demonstrators from resuming the protests. The government accused the Russian secret services of being involved in an attempted coup d'etat and declared a nationwide state of emergency later that day which lasted until late November 16, 2007.

On November 8, 2007, President Saakashvili announced a compromise solution to hold early presidential elections for January 5 2008. He also proposed to hold a referendum in parallel to snap presidential elections about when to hold parliamentary polls – in spring as pushed for by the opposition parties, or in late 2008. [ [http://www.civil.ge/eng/detail.php?id=16262 Saakashvili Calls Snap Presidential Polls, Referendum] . Civil Georgia. 2007-11-08.]

It is said to have been the worst political crisis in Georgia since the 2003 Rose Revolution that brought Saakashvili's government to power.

Background

Georgia in 2003 underwent a bloodless revolution that saw the coming to power of Mikheil Saakashvili in 2004. Saakashvili, a U.S. trained lawyer and staunch advocate for closer integration with the NATO and European Union, instituted reforms that saw the nations GDP triple and corruption drop since taking office. [ [http://www.newsweek.com/id/69554 Protesting the CEO of Georgia] Newsweek November 18, 2007] In 2006, the World Bank named Georgia as the top reformer in the world. [http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSL0235425420071107 FACTBOX: Georgia's Saakashvili divides country] . Reuters. November 7, 2007.] Despite the progress, a significant portion of Georgia's population still live below the poverty line and Georgia is one of the poorest countries in the CIS. Growing incomes are offset by rising inflation; radical economic reforms and a crackdown on the black market left thousands unemployed; and since the reforms, many Georgians are having to pay tax and utility bills in full. Although the Saakashvili government has declared war on corruption, its critics alleges corruption in Saakashvili's own team, including his uncle - the entrepreneur Temur Alasania - and several ministers. The opponents say the authorities use selective application of the law to sideline political opponents, and accuse Saakashvili of authoritarian rule. The government has also come under the fire of criticism due to the use of heavy-handed police against the 2006 prison riot, as well as due to the underinvestigated high-profile muder case involving police officers.

Saakashvili also inherited the issues of the Russian-backed unrecognized breakaway republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which seceded from Georgia in the early 1990s and are now de facto independent but de jure part of Georgia. Saakashvili had made it part of his agenda to reincorporate them through peaceful means.dubious Others within Saakashvili's government, such as the defence minister Irakli Okruashvili had been pushing for a military solution for these de facto republics.

Saaskashvili reassigned the portfolio of Okruashvili from defence to Minister of the Economy in November 2006. It was believed that the reassignment came due to Okruashvili’s aggressive stance on the secessionist conflicts. [ [http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2006/11/c3b48026-d616-4c76-8dbb-f4256c36577f.html Georgia: What Led To Defense Minister's Demotion?] RadioFreeEurope RadioLiberty November 14, 2006 By Liz Fuller] Okruashvili subsequently resigned his post. [ [http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav111706a.shtml GEORGIA: FORMER DEFENSE MINISTER SUBMITS "SHOCK" RESIGNATION] EURASIA INSIGHT Molly Corso 11/17/06]

On September 25, 2007, he announced the formation of the new opposition Movement for United Georgia and unleashed criticism on President Saakashvili, accusing him of corruption, incompetency and human rights violations. He also raised new concerns around Zurab Zhvania's death, challenging the official investigation point of view [ [http://www.geotimes.ge/index.php?m=home&newsid=6946 Okruashvili Ups Ante on Former Allies] - "The Georgian Times"] and personally accused the Georgian president of planning the murder of businessman Badri Patarkatsishvili. [ [http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2007/09/95075e67-2429-48bd-8731-1591a00cb7f7.html Praise, Scorn For Accusations Against Georgia President] ] [ [http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/09/26/ap4157991.html Georgia's Ex-Minister Assails President] - Forbes, Associated Press]

Timeline

28 September 2007 protests

Protests started on September 28, 2007. There was no major trouble reported at the rally, except for some minor scuffles between protesters and police when the protesters spilled out onto Rustaveli Avenue, blocking Tbilisi's main thoroughfare in front of the parliament. Demonstrators were demanding early elections, more accountability and honesty in politics. [ [http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/article3010190.ece Huge protests in Tbilisi demand election after corruption claims - Europe, News - Independent.co.uk ] ]

The rally was organized by an alliance of major opposition parties with the exception of the New Rights which distanced themselves from the manifestation stating that it was "not the way from one temple to another, it is substitute of one leader with another." [ [http://eng.primenewsonline.com/news/121/ARTICLE/15774/2007-09-28.html "New Rights" Not To Participate In Rally In Front Of Parliament] . Prime News Online. September 28, 2007.]

Okruashvili's comments

Previously, former Georgian Minister of Defense and long-time critic of Moscow's policy towards Georgia Irakly Okruashvili has lashed out at his former associate President Mikheil Saakashvili. Okruashvili had been sacked by the president, in November 2006, from his post of Defense Minister allegedly under pressure from the West in September 2006. [ [http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSL2885338820070928 Thousands protest against Georgia president] . Reuters. September 28, 2007.]

At the presentation of his party For United Georgia, he accused Saakashvili of corruption, lobbying the interests of his own family, [Okruashvili claimed he caught the president's uncle with a US$200,000 bribe three years ago.] weakness towards separatists in Abkhazia and South Ossetia,cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7018698.stm |date=2007-09-28 |accessdate=2007-11-08 |title=Huge rally against Georgia bleader |publisher=bbc.co.uk] and a lack of morals.cite news| url=http://en.rian.ru/analysis/20070926/81123901.html |title=Why did Okruashvili "attack" Saakashvili? |date=2007-09-26 |accessdate=2007-11-08 |publisher=en.rian.ru |last=Shesternina |first=Yelena] Okruashvili also claimed that the Georgian government had intentionally obscured the true reasons behind the death of former Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania. Zhvania had died while Prime Minister in February 2005. Okruashvili said that Zhvania's corpse had been taken to the apartment where he was found dead. [Zurab Zhvania officially died of accidental poisoning with carbon monoxide.]

Okruashvili retracted his statements and admitted to the charges raised against him on 8 October 2007 on television, but he later said he made the statements due to being "psychologically pressured".cite news| url=http://www.messenger.com.ge/issues/1480_november_7_2007/1480_okruashvili.html |title=Okruashvili, a ‘political refugee’ in Germany, vows to unseat the president |publisher=messenger.com.ge |accessdate=2007-11-08 |date=2007-11-07] [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7033966.stm BBC NEWS | Europe | Georgian ex-minister 'confesses' ] ] [ [http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2007/10/3cc45581-d86d-4885-bcf3-45097e1c290d.html Georgia: In Televised About-Face, Ex-Minister Retracts Murder Claims - RADIO FREE EUROPE / RADIO LIBERTY ] ] He has since been grated asylum by the government of France. In June, 2008, a French court rejected Saakashvili's warrant for the arrest and extradition of his former friend and now bitterest critic. It is also widely believed that Okruashvili is a likely candidate to replace Saakashvili, if and when Georgian public opinion turns against the president. [http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Central_Asia/JH12Ag02.html]

Government's response

Okruashvili's political comeback and his arrest coincided with Saakashvili's visit to New York City where he addressed the U.N. General Assembly and heavily criticized Russia's involvement in Georgia's breakaway territories. [ [http://www.civil.ge/eng/detail.php?id=15884 Saakashvili Attacks Russia in UN Speech] . "Civil Georgia". September 26, 2007.] Meanwhile, Giga Bokeria, an influential member of the Parliament of Georgia from the ruling United National Movement party, said by voicing stunning, but groundless accusations Okruashvili wanted "to create some kind of immunity and untouchable status." On September 29, President Saakashvili headed to Upper Abkhazia where he attended opening of a new road linking Georgian-controlled areas in breakaway Abkhazia with Georgia proper. He made his first remarks on Okruashvili's accusations:

2 November 2007 protests

On 2 November 2007, tens of thousands of Georgians protested outside the parliament in the capital, Tbilisi, urging President Mikhail Saakashvili to step down. The crowd also called for early parliamentary elections. They accused Saakashvili of heading a corrupt, authoritarian government and wanted him to be ousted democratically. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7074585.stm BBC NEWS | Europe | Mass protest in Georgian capital ] ]

The protests continued in the following days; [ [http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20071106.wgeorgia1106/BNStory/International/home globeandmail.com: World ] ] a televised statement from Okruashvili was seen as a boost in support for the opposition. [ [http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2007/11/129f6da9-b5b6-400d-9160-ea0e53baa35f.html Georgia: Firebrand Okruashvili’s Televised Return Boosts Opposition - RADIO FREE EUROPE / RADIO LIBERTY ] ]

On November 7, 2007, riot police used water cannons, rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse protesters outside the parliament. Hundreds of riot policemen armed with shields, batons and riot guns were deployed on the Rustaveli Avenue after patrol police failed to contain protesters and unblock the avenue. The number of demonstrators increased rapidly to about 5,000 people and units of black-clad police were deployed after protestors overwhelmed the conventional police force. Police carrying truncheons and shields, were seen beating and punching protestors, the AFP news agency reported. Apart from riot police, a large group of men in black clothes and black masks were also seen attacking protesters. The health minister said 508 [ [http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=16237 Online Magazine - Civil Georgia ] ] people were admitted to hospital, most to be treated for the effects of tear gas. [ [http://en.rian.ru/world/20071107/86963219.html RIA Novosti - World - Georgian riot police use tear gas, water cannons on protesters ] ] [ [http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/7897465F-0A28-4A05-AF48-3965483D6038.htm Al Jazeera English - News - Saakashvili Blames Unrest On Russia ] ] [ [http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=16218 Online Magazine - Civil Georgia ] ] Twenty-three law enforcement officers were injured and 21 people were arrested during the riots. [ [http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=16252 21 People Arrested – Police] . Civil Georgia. 2007-11-08.]

TV footage showed some protesters throwing stones at riot policemen. They were dispersed by police a second time. [ [http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=16227 Online Magazine - Civil Georgia ] ]

Two pro-opposition independent TV stations have gone off the air after Badri Patarkatsishvili declared that "Nobody should doubt that all my efforts, my financial resources including the last tetri will be applied for freeing Georgia from Fascist regime": Imedi TV (that is co-owned by the media tycoon Badri Patarkatsishvili who sponsored the National Council recently set up by the ten opposition parties and has pledged to finance the rallies until the government is removed) and Kavkasia, located in the same building as Imedi TV. [CNN, [http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/11/07/georgia.crisis.ap/index.html Georgia: State of emergency called] , 7.11.2007] Police officers in masks and assault rifles were seen sealing off the Imedi office. [ [http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=16234 Online Magazine - Civil Georgia ] ] Shortly afterwards, Mikheil Saakashvili declared a state of emergency Georgia-wide to last for 15 days. As a result, news programs at all the private television stations will be shut down for 15 days. [BBC, [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7083911.stm Georgia declares emergency state] , 7.11.2007] The publicly-funded Georgian Public Broadcasting (GPB) remained the only station allowed to provide news coverage. [ [http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=16239 Emergency Rule in Georgia, News Coverage Curtailed] . Civil Georgia. 2007-11-08.]

On November 8, a "small group of students" gathered at Batumi State University to protest against the police violence against the demonstrators in Tbilisi the previous day. According to eyewitnesses interviewed by Human Rights Watch, "police attacked the group without warning, chasing and beating protesters trying to flee." Holly Cartner, Executive Director [of] Europe and Central Asia Division at Human Rights Watch condemned the police attacks on peaceful protesters. [ [http://hrw.org/english/docs/2007/11/08/georgi17284.htm Georgia: Police Beat Peaceful Protesters for Second Day (Human Rights Watch, 8-11-2007) ] ]

Soon, Georgia's opposition announced the suspension of anti-government protests in Tbilisi. [ [http://www.voanews.com/english/2007-11-08-voa21.cfm Saakashvili Proposes Georgian Presidential Elections in January] . VOA News. November 8, 2007.] Most of the opposition parties hailed President Saakashvili’s decision as the first step to end the political standoff, and agreed to the negotiations with Nino Burjanadze, the parliamentary chairperson. [ [http://www.civil.ge/eng/detail.php?id=16267 Crisis Receding as Election Season Begins to Unfold] . Civil Georgia. 2007-11-09.]

By November 9, 2007, riot police and troops had been withdrawn from the main sites of the November 7 unrest. On the same day, Ilia II, Catholicos-Patriarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church met separately with Nino Burjanadze and opposition leaders and said that he was ready to mediate between the opposition and the authorities.

Government's response

In a televised address, Saakashvili said his country faced "a very serious threat of unrest". "High ranking officials in Russian special services are behind this," he said, adding that he had evidence. He said several Russian diplomats would be expelled from Georgia for engaging in "espionage". Earlier he had recalled Georgia's ambassador to Moscow, Irakly Chubinishvili, for "consultations". [ [http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/B38F9318-A9CB-42F9-9D61-EBCAA0654293.htm Al Jazeera English - News - Georgia Declares State Of Emergency ] ] [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7083485.stm BBC NEWS | Europe | Russia 'behind Georgia's unrest' ] ] Russia denied any involvement in the current disorder. [ [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071107/ap_on_re_eu/georgia_opposition Police use force to stop Georgia protest] , by Misha Dzhindzhikhashvili, Associated press, 11/7/07. ]

Saakasvili commented the clashes by saying "We have been hearing for recent months that turmoil was expected in Georgia by autumn. We have been receiving this information from our intelligence" and that "alternative government has already been set up in Moscow". [ [http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=16229 Saakashvili Makes a Statement] Civil Georgia, 7 November 2007]

Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli said a coup attempt was made. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7083911.stm Georgia under state of emergency] BBC News, 8 November 2007]

On November 7, Georgia's Interior Ministry released taped audio and video material purporting to show some opposition leaders – Levan Berdzenishvili of the Republican Party, Giorgi Khaindrava of opposition group Equality Institute, Konstantine Gamsakhurdia, the leader of the Freedom Party and Shalva Natelashvili, the leader of Labor Party - cooperating with the Russian counter-intelligence service during a meeting with three Russian diplomats. [ [http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=16240 Georgia to Expel Three Russian Diplomats] . Civil Georgia. 2007-11-08.]

Gigi Ugulava, Tbilisi's mayor, defended the action by police, saying: "I was listening to one of the opposition leaders who was saying proudly they planned to pitch tents and set up a tent town in Tbilisi. "What we did is stop this because it is the will of the people not to have a tent town in Tbilisi." [ [http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/B38F9318-A9CB-42F9-9D61-EBCAA0654293.htm Georgia declares state of emergency] Al Jazeera, 7 November 2007]

Criticism of government actions

The opposition leaders, NGOs and the public defender of Georgia have harshly criticised the government actions. The police was accused of excessiveness, and it was alleged that groups of organized civiliansFact|date=November 2007 were also engaged in the crackdown on the protesters. Illegal arrests, beatings and intimidations were reported. [http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=16311 Ruling Party, Opposition End Second Round of Talks] civil.ge November 12, 2007] Concerns have been expressed about widespread practice of tapping private telephone conversations.http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=16361] civil.ge November 18, 2007] The government has been accused of media control.Fact|date=November 2007

25 November 2007 protests

On November 25 2007, thousands of protesters staged a three-hour peaceful demonstration demanding the re-opening of Imedi TV and radio stations. The protest, organized by a nine party opposition coalition, gathered in an area called The Rike in Tblisi and then moved to the front of the Parliament. [cite web
url= http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=16427
title= Thousands Protest in Support of Imedi TV
publisher=civil.ge
date=2007-11-25
accessdate = 2007-11-30]

International reaction

flag|Russia — The Russian Foreign Ministry rejected Saakashvili's accusations calling it an "irresponsible provocation" designed by Saakashvili to distract attention from his domestic problems and blame them on a foreign scapegoat. [http://www.forbes.com/afxnewslimited/feeds/afx/2007/11/07/afx4312790.html State of emergency declared in Tbilisi] Forbes.com AFX News Limited Nov 11, 2007] It later issued a statement heavily criticizing the Georgian government for police lawlessness, arrests of opposition leaders and human rights activists, ban on activities of the independent media and violence against the foreign journalists. [cite web
url= http://www.mid.ru/brp_4.nsf/0/3EDC26E7F81A26E2C325738D0060E85C
title= Statement by Mikhail Kamynin, the Spokesman of Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regarding the Human Rights Situation in Georgia
publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia
date=2007-11-08
accessdate = 2007-11-08]

flag|United States — The United States welcomed the Georgian government’s decision to hold early presidential elections, while urging to end the state of emergency and restore all media broadcasts. [cite web
url= http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2007/nov/94760.htm
title= Georgia: Need for Restraint and Respect for Rule of Law
publisher=US Department of State
date=2007-11-08
accessdate = 2007-11-08] On November 13, 2007, Matthew Bryza, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs and the top U.S. envoy to the Caucasus, told reporters that he would be very surprised if there had been a real threat from Russia to destabilize Georgia. [cite web
url= http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSL1367375720071113
title= U.S. says doubts Russia involved in Georgia strife
publisher=reuters
date=2007-11-13
accessdate = 2007-11-15]

flag|Sweden — Foreign minister Carl Bildt said that November 7 was a "very dark day for Georgia", but praised the decision to hold early presidential elections, adding that all parties now have to "return to the democratic path". "This is also a way to address the simplistic propaganda that is currently blazoned abroad by the big neighbor in the north (Russia)" /.../ "and to secure long-term stability in the country." [ [http://carlbildt.wordpress.com/2007/11/08/liten-ljusning-i-georgien/ Liten ljusning i Georgien] Carl Bildt's weblog, November 8, 2007.] Carl Bildt, who met with President Saakashvili in Tbilisi on November 2, has repeatedly said that: "To support and help the young democracies (in Eastern Europe) /.../ is something we (Europe) must do." [ [http://www.dn.se/DNet/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1042&a=712381 I hälarna på resenären Carl Bildt] Dagens Nyheter, November 4, 2007.]

flag|United Nations — Louise Arbour, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, rebuked Georgia for its "disproportionate use of force" against protesters and said it must uphold fundamental rights even under a state of emergency. In a statement, she also expressed support for Georgia's public defender, or human rights ombudsman, and voiced concern at the silencing of independent television stations in the former Soviet republic. [http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSL08332924 UN rights boss rebukes Georgia for use of force] reuters.com, Stephanie Nebehay, Nov 8, 2007]

NATO — Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer in a statement on November 8, 2007 said that “The imposition of Emergency Rule, and the closure of media outlets in Georgia, a Partner with which the Alliance has an Intensified Dialogue, are of particular concern and not in line with Euro-Atlantic values” [ [http://www.geotimes.ge/index.php?m=home&newsid=7700 Closure of Media Outlets Not in Line with NATO Values – Scheffer] The Georgian Times, Civil Georgia Nov. 8, 2007]

flag|European Union — The EU foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, urged restraint from both sides, saying "political differences should be resolved within the democratic institutions". [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7084357.stm Troops enforce Georgia emergency] BBC News, Nov. 8, 2007]

Human Rights Watch — On December 20, 2007, Human Rights Watch released a 102-page report, named "Crossing the Line: Georgia’s Violent Dispersal of Protestors and Raid on Imedi Television", criticising the Government's usage of excessive force on protesters November 7 and police raid against the private Imedi television station. [ [http://hrw.org/english/docs/2007/12/17/georgi17572.htm HRW report] . December 12, 2007.]

The Aftermath

Crisis recedes

On 8 November, 2007, Saakashvili announced he was planning snap presidential elections for January 5 2008. He also proposed to hold a simultaneous plebiscite about when to hold parliamentary polls – in spring as pushed for by the opposition parties, or in late 2008. He also called for dialogue with the opposition parties which, he said, did not cooperate with the Russian intelligence, and promised to end the state of emergency within a few days. [ [http://www.civil.ge/eng/detail.php?id=16262 Saakashvili Calls Snap Presidential Polls, Referendum] . Civil Georgia. 2007-11-08.]

Meanwhile, Georgian authorities have charged the businessman Badri Patarkatsishvili, who had earlier left for London, with plotting a coup. [ [http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=16273 Patarkatsishvili Suspected of "Coup Plotting"] . Civil Georgia. November 9, 2007.]

Later on November 9, the Parliament of Georgia, in a complete absence of opposition lawmakers, backed the presidential decree imposing state of emergency and restrictions on media on the entire territory of Georgia to be in force until late November 22. [ [http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=16275 Parliament Backs Emergency Rules] . Civil Georgia. 2007-11-09.]

Later on November 10, the talks regarding the election code resumed between the ruling and opposition parties. [ [http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=16311 Ruling Party, Opposition End Second Round of Talks] . Civil Georgia. 2007-11-12.]

The nation-wide state of emergency was lifted at 7pm local time on November 16, in accordance to the parliament's decree passed two days ago. [ [http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=16350 State of Emergency Lifted] . Civil Georgia. 2007-11-16.] All media sources resumed broadcasting with the exception of Imedi TV which returned on air on December 12. [ [http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=16351 Kavkasia TV Back on Air] . Civil Georgia. 2007-11-16.] [ [http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=16565 Imedi Resumes Broadcasts] . Civil Georgia. 2007-12-12.]

Economic Impact

Robert Christiansen, the head of the IMF's Georgia mission, indicated that the turmoil and pre-election uncertainty has dented Georgia's image with investors, adding that recovery was possible. He added that "recent political developments add considerable uncertainty to the projected volume of inflows for the remainder of this year and 2008". [cite web
url= http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSL1590594420071115
title= Georgia to lift emergency, IMF says turmoil damaging
publisher=Reuters
date=2007-11-15
accessdate = 2007-11-15]

According to Prime minister Lado Gurgenidze, During the November turmoils Georgian economy lost nearly half a billion dollars of potential investments. [cite web
url= http://www.geotimes.ge/index.php?m=home&newsid=8201
title= November Unrest Cost Economy USD 500 mln – PM
publisher=The Georgian Times
date=2007.12.14 10:20
accessdate =2007.12.14 10:20]

References

See also

*Movement for United Georgia
*Badri Patarkatsishvili
*Rose Revolution
*Human Rights in Georgia

External links

* [http://hrw.org/reports/2007/georgia1207/ Crossing the Line: Georgia’s Violent Dispersal of Protestors and Raid on Imedi Television] (HRW)

Photos

* [http://www.civil.ge/eng/detail.php?id=16198 Protest Rallies in Pictures (civil.ge)]
* [http://en.rian.ru/photolents/20071108/87109352.html Image Gallery of Protest from rian.ru]
* [http://geomusika.blogspot.com/2007/11/georgia-protest-mass-terror-in-tbilisi.html Georgia Protest Photos]

Videos

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHxQZmMRysU Farewell speech by IMEDI TV]
* [http://www.president.gov.ge/video/movie.php?l=E&m=demonstration2.wmv Video of events presented by Saakashvili's official website]