“I Protect Freedom” Protest Rally Takes Place in Tbilisi

On November 7, 2018 hundreds of Georgians held a meeting at Rustaveli Theater to protest about the November 7, 2007 brutal dispersal of a peaceful rally, which left 508 people injured.

After remembering the November 7 developments in the theater, the protesters moved to Rustaveli Avenue and held a protest rally – “I Protect Freedom.” The main slogan of the protest was “We Remember November 7.”

Georgian current and former politicians, who were the main leaders of the November 2007 protests in Georgia, also came to the rally and delivered speeches.

Former Presidential Candidate and opposition member, Levan Gachechiladze, noted that Georgian society will always protect the freedom of their country and the rally underlines this message.

“Nothing is worth as much as freedom…The important thing is that our children and grandchildren have joined us and we all will protect our country’s freedom,” he addressed the protesters.

Along with Gachechiladze, Koba Davitashvili, prominent member of Georgian opposition, member of Tbilisi City Assembly and a leader of the Georgian People's Party, who was brutally beaten during the rally dispersal in 2007, also addressed the people.

“Former ruling party United National Movement is not in prison now but they threaten us with revanchism, a new November 7th, violence and destabilization,” he stressed.

The protesters also marched to the old building of the parliament and expressed solidarity to Zaza Saralidze, father of the murdered teen Davit, and Malkhaz Machalikashvili, whose son was killed in anti-terrorist operation in December, who are holding protest rallies there.

In 2007, a series of anti-government protests took place across Georgia. The demonstrations peaked on 2 November 2007, when 50,000–100,000 people rallied in downtown Tbilisi. People protested against the allegedly corrupt government of ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili.

Demonstrations occurred both in September and November 2007 and were initially largely peaceful. The protests went downhill by 6 November 2007, but turned violent the next day when the police, using heavy-handed tactics, including tear gas and water cannon, unblocked Rustaveli Avenue, Tbilisi's main boulevard, dislodged the protesters from the territory adjoining the House of Parliament, and prevented the demonstrators from resuming protests.

The government accused the Russian secret services of being involved in an attempted coup d'état and declared a nationwide state of emergency later that day which lasted until late 16 November 2007.

By Thea Morrison

Archive photos: Netgazeti