KAKHA KUKAVA: ‘WE WILL SOON REPLACE THE GOVERNMENT IN A PEACEFUL WAY’
Rezonansi
Nov 1 2008
Tbilisi
This government will change in a few months, one of the leaders of
the [united opposition’s] National Council, Kakha Kukava said. In
his words, Western leaders commonly believe that [Georgian President
Mikheil] Saakashvili is a troublemaker who should go. What are the
opposition’s plans, why have the French launched an investigation into
the August developments and what decision has the West made? Rezonansi
has discussed these issues with Kakha Kukava.
[Rezonansi] Has a decision been taken as to where the protest rally
will move from [Tbilisi’s main thoroughfare] Rustaveli Avenue on
7 November?
[Kukava] Yes, people will move from Rustaveli Avenue in the direction
of the [president’s] Avlabari residence [in central Tbilisi]. I think
that the Georgian people will definitely take to the streets on 7
November. As to the regions, people are being mobilized in central
offices. We are not expecting any resistance from the authorities.
Government’s allusions to Russia factor sign of its "autocratic nature"
[Rezonansi] Most people say that this is not the right time for
rallies, at a time when the occupying [Russian] army is deployed at
a distance of 25 kilometres from Tbilisi.
[Kukava] This belongs more to the comedy genre than to real politics.
[Rezonansi] It is a fact that the authorities have started talking
about a Russian trail…
[Kukava] This is a sign of the authorities’ autocratic nature. Only
authoritarian regimes refer to their opposition as those who are
spying for other countries. For instance, the Russian authorities
say that their opposition is being managed by the Western special
services. Hugo Chavez says that agents working for America rather
than the opposition are fighting against him. You will not hear
from serious leaders that their opposition is being managed by anyone
else. A statement by the Saakashvili government that opposition members
serve as agents of the special services of foreign countries reveals
Saakashvili’s political persona.
[Rezonansi] How would you comment on the fact that the opposition
leaders [Levan Gachechiladze and Koka Guntsadze] and the former
prime minister, [Zurab Noghaideli], met in an Italian restaurant [in
Tbilisi], where, as a journalist asserts, they talked about making
use of the fact that the Russian army is deployed here…
[Kukava] This is the type of gossip similar to one according to which
[Georgia’s first president Zviad] Gamsakhurdia smuggled gold loaded
in two carriages from Georgia to Armenia, and then he declared the
independence of Samegrelo and Abkhazia. Such gossip is disseminated
solely for the reason – and specialists [as published] know that very
well – that no matter how big a lie is there will always be a small
percentage of people who will take it seriously.
But this does not mean that serious people should not hold serious
debates on that. One conclusion that can be made from this is that
we live in a totalitarian state where even a dinner in a restaurant
is the focus of attention of the special services and the media.
Demise of Georgian government "matter of time"
[Rezonansi] However, the authorities say that the 7 November rally
should not transform into a permanent one. In your opinion, why are
the authorities scared of protest rallies?
[Kukava] The demise of this government is a matter of time. This
government will change in a few months. The decision has been
taken. Technically this will depend on several factors, including
on how the new American administration will use its powers and how
active Georgian society will be.
[Rezonansi] Who has taken this decision?
[Kukava] Western leaders have reached general consensus that
Saakashvili is a troublemaker and he should go as he cannot create
anything but destabilization and disorder in the region. When [French
Foreign Minister Bernard] Kouchner makes a statement that a commission
has been set up to study who started the hostilities in August,
when on the same topic [British Foreign Secretary David] Miliband
makes a statement, everything is crystal clear. These people have up
today been considered the lobbyists of the Georgian authorities and
if the Georgian government’s lobbyists are making such statements,
no further questions remain.
[Rezonansi] Why did the French launch an investigation into the
August developments?
[Kukava] It is possible to hide the truth from the Georgian people
by using propaganda on Rustavi-2 TV, but fortunately, it is not
possible to distort the world public opinion with the help of
Rustavi-2. Everyone knows how Georgia was dragged into this military
conflict – this was a result of Saakashvili’s irresponsible behaviour.
[Rezonansi] Your colleagues say that the situation in Georgia will
change drastically after 7 November.
[Kukava] We are launching permanent protest rallies. This will
probably take up several months. We want to effect the change of
Saakashvili’s government without blood, in a peaceful way. We are
launching permanent large rallies and by doing so, we will see this
government off in such a peaceful way.
[Rezonansi] Do you expect the parliamentary opposition to attend
the rally?
[Kukava] Maybe they will accompany special-purpose units to break up
the rally. It is crystal clear that they will not be with us. They
too have referred to us as Russia’s agents in their recent remarks. At
the moment they represent the authorities.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
