Tbilisi - Forgotten Impression: Protests
Date: 16 July 2009 21:18:48
Waxing lyrical about Tbilisi's beauty, I forgot to mention the political activism: which was amazing to see from me, who is very, very apathetic: and I tend to think Australia is generally apathetic in terms of politics: we may be informed, we may whinge and whine...but when it comes to action there are few and far between who "take to the streets" or take other action.
The Parliament Building is situated on Rustaveli Avenue [named for the mediaeval Georgian poet, Shota Rustaveli -- in my ignorance, someone I had never heard of], a main thoroughfare, with posh shops interspersed with gorgeous and classical buildings, such as the Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theatre -- and the occasional functional Soviet one. Imagine my surprise when I walked down this street and found the beginning part of it, from Freedom Square, was closed to traffic and had a number of booths [labelled cells] along the street next to the Parliament, as well as a stage and various displays -- including someone selling [? -- or maybe just displaying] various icons. While during the day it appeared quiet, in the late afternoon and evening crowds formed and speakers continued their appeal for President Mikheil Saakashvili to resign, blaming him for defeat against Russia in the war back in August 2008 and also claiming he had stifled democracy.
This round of protests have, according to some basic news searching I did, been going on since April 9 -- see, for example, this BBC News report. And I imagine, given the will of the Georgian people, they will continue for some time yet -- perhaps even until President Saakashvili's resignation. The protests appeared peaceful [at least in action: I am unsure of the words spoken!], but I still did not hang around very long -- perhaps a bit whimpy of me: but I am always aware, especially in a foreign country, that protests can turn easily [though there was no sign of it here I add], so I headed off after several minutes for more walking and sightseeing.
An interesting sight and experience truth be told. Though sad in a sense that these people are, as I saw it, desperately hurt and unhappy and desire change. May God bless Georgia.
[By the way, I will return to Istanbul after Georgia; with things settling in my mind, and so much to say!, I thought I'd analyse my experiences in Georgia first.]