2019 protests in Georgia (country): Difference between revisions
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[[For Freedom (Georgia)|For Freedom]] |
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[[Georgian Dream]] |
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| leadfigures1 = [[Elene Khoshtaria]]<br>[[Grigol Vashadze |
| leadfigures1 = [[Elene Khoshtaria]]<br>[[Grigol Vashadze]]<br>[[Irakli Okruashvili]]<br>[[Nika Melia]]<br>[[Gigi Ugulava]]<br>[[Giga Bokeria]]<br>[[Misha Mshvildadze]]<br>[[Shota Dighmelashvili]] |
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| leadfigures2 = [[Giorgi Gakharia]]<br>[[Bidzina Ivanishvili]]<br>[[Mamuka Bakhtadze]]<br>[[Irakli Kobakhidze]]<br>{{ill|Vakhtang Gomelauri|ka|ვახტანგ გომელაური}} |
| leadfigures2 = [[Giorgi Gakharia]]<br>[[Bidzina Ivanishvili]]<br>[[Mamuka Bakhtadze]]<br>[[Irakli Kobakhidze]]<br>{{ill|Vakhtang Gomelauri|ka|ვახტანგ გომელაური}} |
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Revision as of 21:46, 8 November 2019
| Gavrilov's Night & Georgian protests | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Protesters on the second day of protests. | |||
| Date | Large protests: 20 June- July 2019 Minor Protests: July 2019-present | ||
| Location | |||
| Caused by | Russian MP Sergey Gavrilov visited Georgia within the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy and occupied the chair of the speaker of parliament | ||
| Goals | Day 1 requests:
| ||
| Methods | Demonstrations, civil disobedience | ||
| Status | Main Protests ended in July, Minor protests continue | ||
| Parties | |||
| Lead figures | |||
The 2019 Georgian protests (also known as Gavrilov's Night or Protests in Georgia) (Georgian: გავრილოვის ღამე), refers to a series of anti-government protests in the country of Georgia.
History
The protests began on June 20, 2019, in front of the Parliament of Georgia. The protests launched after Sergei Gavrilov (Russian: Сергей Анатольевич Гаврилов), a Communist Party member of the Russian Duma who was visiting through the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy, sat in a chair reserved by protocol for the Head of Parliament.[1] He delivered a speech in Russian extolling the Orthodox brotherhood of Georgia and Russia. Earlier that week, Gavrilov had voted in favor of the independence of Abkhazia, an act that angered the Ukrainian ambassador to Georgia.[2] His statement sparked massive protests that led to police actions, apologies from the government, resignations of political leaders and the adoption of electoral reforms ahead of the 2020 elections.
Following Gavrilov's actions, the Georgian opposition blocked the speaker and called for protests that demanded the government's resignation.[3][4][5] As night fell, Georgian law enforcement used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse protesters. Approximately 240 demonstrators were injured during the clashes with police and 305 protesters were arrested. At least two people experienced eye injuries and loss of vision due to rubber bullets, according to Giorgi Kordzakhiya, director of Tbilisi's New Hospital.[6] The government accused protesters of attempting to storm the parliament building.
Results
Following the protests of June 20-21, 2019, Irakli Kobakhidze, Georgia's Chairman of Parliament, announced his resignation. After mass demonstrations on June 24 in Tbilisi, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream Party, Bidzina Ivanishvili, announced a change to the electoral system from a mixed to proportional representation for the 2020 elections and lowering the vote barrier for parties.[1][7][8]
United National Movement MP Nika Melia was released on bail he was charged with organizing, managing or participating in group violence, during the protests.[9][10]
Reactions
Russian president Vladimir Putin signed a decree to suspend passenger flights carrying Russian citizens from Russia to Georgia, effective July 8.[11][12] Russia's Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-being increased quality controls on Georgian wine and mineral water, seen as linked to the escalation in tensions.[1][13][14]
President Salome Zourabichvili shortened her visit to Belarus to attend the opening ceremony of the 2019 European Games and to meet with President Alexander Lukashenko following the beginning of the protests. In an interview with Euronews, Zourabichvili called for a "de-escalation" in the situation while also blaming Russia for stirring up a "fifth column" in the country that is loyal to Moscow.[citation needed] Russian Prime Minister Dimitry Medvedev denied these claims by saying it is a "distortion of reality".[15] Medvedev also called on Russian tourists affected by the travel ban to keep coming to Russia because "They love Georgia" and that "politicians must solve the problems".[16] Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov criticized her remarks as "ultra-extremist" in a statement on June 25.[17]
On June 26, Nika Melia an opposition leader was charged with organizing and inciting group violence.[1][18]
In July 2019, Russia denounced an expletive-laden attack on Vladimir Putin by Georgian TV host Giorgi Gabunia during a broadcast on Rustavi 2.[19]
On 8 September, Giorgi Gakharia became Prime Minister of Georgia.
See also
References
- ^ a b c d Genin, Aaron (2019-07-25). "Georgian Protests: Tbilis's Two-Sided Conflict". The California Review. Retrieved 2019-07-26.
- ^ nikoladze, Tatia. "Who is the Russian Orthodox communist who provoked protests in Tbilisi?".
- ^ CNN, Nathan Hodge, Milena Veselinovic, Bianca Britton and Luka Gviniashvili. "Georgia's president blames Russia over violent protests". CNN.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Reuters (June 21, 2019). "Anti-Russia protesters met with tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannon in Georgia – video" – via www.theguardian.com.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ "Riots as Russian MP addresses Georgian parliament". June 21, 2019 – via www.bbc.com.
- ^ "Georgians keep protesting despite speaker's resignation". Associated Press. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
- ^ "Georgia 2020 Parliament Vote to Use Proportional System: Ruling Party Head". June 24, 2019 – via NYTimes.com.
- ^ "Russia threatens more economic pain in standoff with Georgia". Reuters. 2019-06-24. Retrieved 2019-07-26.
- ^ "Opposition party MP Nika Melia charged with violence at Tbilisi rally". Agenda.ge. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
- ^ "Opposition MP, charged with incitement to violence at Tbilisi rallies, released on bail". Agenda.ge. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
- ^ Times, The Moscow (June 21, 2019). "Putin Suspends Passenger Flights From Russia to Georgia". The Moscow Times.
- ^ "Georgians Have Now Been Protesting Russian Interference for a Week. Here is Why". Time. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
- ^ "Russia Tightens Quality Control on Georgian Wine". Georgia Today. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
- ^ "War on the grapevine? Russia ups control on Georgian wine imports". The Independent. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
- ^ https://www.euronews.com/2019/06/22/georgia-s-president-calls-for-de-escalation-after-unrest
- ^ "Russian tourists should continue to come to Georgia - President of Georgia". tass.com.
- ^ "Russian FM slams Georgian president's "ultra-extremist" remarks - Xinhua | English.news.cn". www.xinhuanet.com.
- ^ "Georgian Parliament Strips Opposition Lawmaker Of Immunity Over Violent Protests". www.rferl.org. Retrieved 2019-07-26.
- ^ "Russia condemns Georgian TV host's attack on 'filthy invader' Putin". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 July 2019.