GEORGIANS DIFFER FROM ARMENIANS

A1+
[06:10 pm] 07 November, 2007

"Saakashvili still remains chairman of a progressive party. He
didn’t become Georgia’s president," Head of the Vanadzor-based
regional branch of the Armenian Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly (HCA)
Artur Sakunts told A1+.

Reminder: opposition supporters have been gathering outside parliament
every day since Friday. The protesters accuse Sahakashvili of
corruption and of not doing enough to tackle poverty. They call for
release of political prisoners. The opposition demands the president’s
resignation and wants a fresh election in April.

According to Artur Sakunts, police took harsh measure yesterday
night. Police used tear gas and water cannon after thousands of
protesters tried to reclaim Rustaveli Avenue – Tbilisi’s main
thoroughfare.

The protesters had been regrouping after an earlier police action
forced them off the streets. Police attempted to dispel crowds
of demonstrators. They beat people with rubber sticks and drove
demonstrators away from the square. Several people were injured during
the clash on the city’s main street in front of parliament. Former
minister Georgy Khandravay was detained. The police action provoked
chaos among the demonstrators, sending them running for cover.

The protesters say the police response demonstrates Mr Saakashvili’s
authoritarian tendencies. Many of the protesters back the president’s
former ally, Irakli Okruashvili, who was arrested last month.

"The number of policemen is presently increasing in the streets. The
former minister was released this afternoon," Artur Sakunts says.

The events were broadcast via two Georgian TV Stations "Imedi" and
"Rustaveli," as well as via BBC and CNN.

Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly members Armenia, Nagorno-Karabakh,
Azerbaijan, Georgia have issued an announcement condemning the recent
events in Georgia.

They think that the events might affect democratic processes in
South Caucasus.