Second anniversary of Georgia's Rose Revolution marked
Thousands of Georgians jammed the main streets and squares of the capital Tbilisi today to mark the second anniversary of the Rose Revolution protests that drove out the country’s longtime leader and brought Mikhail Saakashvili to office.
The protests over fraudulent parliamentary elections, which culminated when demonstrators rushed into the parliament, forcing President Eduard Shevardnadze to flee and then resign, were the first of the so-called “colour revolutions” in former Soviet republics.
Subsequent mass protests in Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan also helped usher in reformist opposition figures.
Since Shevardnadze’s ousting, impoverished Georgia has struggled to overcome corruption and a deteriorated infrastructure and many of the country’s people are disappointed – or outright angry – that progress has been slow. But many of those thronging the streets yesterday said they think the country is essentially on the right track.
“Of course, the new leaders are far from ideal. But it is doing something,” said Georgy Goletiani, a 35-year-old engineer.
“Under Shevardnadze, the impression was that life came to a halt.”
In his two years in power, Saakashvili has eagerly cultivated stronger ties with the West, seeking to move his country from under Russia’s shadow. In May, US President George Bush visited Tbilisi in support of the country’s democracy, giving Saakashvili a large boost.
The highlight of today’s commemoration was a Saakashvili speech from a rose-adorned stage in Freedom Square. Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, whose country celebrated the anniversary of its Orange Revolution yesterday, travelled to Georgia to join in the celebrations, along with leaders from Estonia and Romania.
Many praise Saakashvili for bringing what they say were much-needed reforms in Georgia.
Kote Lursmanishvili, 25, who said he helped storm parliament two years ago, said he had named his son after Saakashvili.
“There’s less corruption and the criminals have their tails between their legs,” he said.
More than 3,000 members of opposition groups, meanwhile, staged their own counter-rally, carrying red-and-white Georgian flags.
“We demand the resignation of Saakashvili and new presidential and parliamentary elections. Otherwise, Georgia will be sold (out),” said Georgy Metreveli, who heads the group “Justice.”
“The current leadership, in just two years in power, has driven the country into a dead-end. It is against the people and cares only about its own glory and its own relatives. This regime will soon fall.”
Kakhaber Dolidze, who identified himself as an economist in his late 20s, called Saakashvili’s presidency a “devil’s regime.”
“It is a continuation of Shevardnadze’s regime’s, only the declarations have changed,” Dolidze said.
The London-based human rights group, Amnesty International, said in a report released today that torture and ill-treatment of detainees in police custody continues to be a problem in Georgia and said efforts to combat the problem were weak outside the capital.
