In Georgia, the suspension of the process of rapprochement with the European Union triggered major opposition demonstrations in Tbilisi. They have also expanded to more than 40 cities, including Gori. The mayor is from the ruling party, but in the October parliamentary elections, the opposition won 53% of the vote. Here too, the fire of protest is smoldering, but protesting officially is risky.
2 mins
With our special correspondent in Gori,
1.5 hours from the capital Tbilisi, on Stalin Avenue, in the city center of Gori, is the Stalin Museum. In the middle of the tourist season, we come across cars registered in Russia and groups of Chinese tourists. The inhabitants, even the youngest, do not hesitate to speak Russian. Here, however, as elsewhere in Georgiabeneath the peaceful surface, the political crisis agitates and polarizes.
For Janna Adiashvilli, “ it has divided families, sometimes couples, and it is obviously a complicated situation that affects everyone. Everyone in this country is affected “. This young 31-year-old activist also: “ I always freely say what I think and communicate my opinions. I have always tried to dialogue with people who I know do not think like me, and I know that everyone has the right to think what they want. But today, for me, it’s not a matter of opinion. We are deciding the future of this country. And I am 100% convinced % that I made the right choice, because I stand with free Georgia. »
Demonstrations in a heavy atmosphere
In Tbilisi and the Black Sea city of Batumi, residents replaced the decorations on the town hall’s Christmas tree with photos of beaten protesters with bruised faces. HAS Gorithe idea quickly fizzled out.
“ There are too many provocateurs, they could very well have burned the tree and made people believe that it was us activists who were responsible », Estimates Otar Virikashvili. At 39 years old, he attends all gatherings, even the smallest, even in a sometimes very heavy atmosphere. “ Recently, during a demonstration with very few people – we could barely see 15 young people standing. We counted 16 police cars and special security services around. Their passengers constantly filmed and photographed everyone. We even joked with our cameraman who was filming the demonstration. He was told that the police clearly really had a lot more images than he did. », he adds.
Today, some city residents prefer to remain discreet. To go demonstrate, some take their car to the center of the capital and feel surrounded by the crowd.