President Saakashvili’s official residence in Bobokhvati became one more place for protest.
Georgia’s anti-government demonstrations that began on April 9 weren’t just in Tbilisi, nor were the protesters only from Georgia’s capital city.
While the bulk of demonstrators were in Tbilisi, gathering in front of parliament, similar protesters from Ajara and Guria moved towards the President’s official residence in Bobokhvati in Ajara. Some 50 cars and ten mini buses ignored the rainy weather as they converged on the Bobkhvati address in an attempt to find President Mikheil Saakashvili and show their dissatisfaction.
Ex Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli, a key opposition organizer, had inside information that the President would be in Bobokhvati. However, soon after arriving the protesters found that the president was not in his residence and the stream of people had to change their plans. They decided to return to Batumi and continue their protest by marching on foot from the cities entrance to a rally at the theater.
As the crowd gathered around the theatre, Nogaideli began to address a demonstration that lasted two hours. From 3 p.m till 5 p.m., 3,000-5,000 people stood in the rain and offered their fellow citizen protestors in Tbilisi solidarity.
“I can’t imagine a person with a sensible mind who won’t come here today to protest against this life,” said 67-year-old Nestan Beridze, who was holding an umbrella in her hands as she joined the crowd in the rain in front of the theater. In spite of her poor health, this woman was eager to stand and tolerate the cold rainy weather for over two hours.
Murman Dumbadze, Republican Party representative in Batumi, said, “demonstrations in the Regions will continue until Saakashvili resigns.” According to Mr. Dumbadze, he received information that about 4,000 people had gathered in Batumi on April 9th. Dumbadze himself joined his party members in Tbilisi where they gathered in front of the Georgia Public Broadcaster on the 9th of April at 1 p.m and then went on to join the main demonstration in front of parliament around 2 p.m.
“Every day must become the 9th of April until the president agrees to resign,” said Dumbadze.
Another representative of the Republican Party, a member of the Adjaran supreme
Council, Gia Masalkini, is also in Tbilisi. According to Mr. Masalkini “many active members of their party are in Tbilisi because they consider being here to be important.” They did not officially organize transport for regional protesters to get to Tbilisi so the main protest involving citizens from Adjara was held in front of the theater in Batumi on the 9th of April, he said.
No one can offer an exact number of protesters who traveled from Ajara to join the protest in Tbilisi. However despite the now sunny weather there are no protesters in front of the theatre in Ajara. It’s possible at least some of those protesters are still active and have moved to Tbilisi.
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