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Wednesday,
August 22,
2007, #160 (1427)
By Eter Tsotniashvili
At three in the morning of August 21, the government evicted the Union of Writers from their office on 13 Machabeli Street after a five-day standoff. Policeman entered the building where seven Union members were holed up, and told them to vacate the premises. They did. The building was emptied, and no one was allowed back in. The Ministry of Economic Development claims the central Tbilisi building for the state, and informed the organization on August 16 they had two days to leave. The writers, insisting they are the rightful property owners, refused. "Georgia has never had such a difficult day since April 9 [1989]," head of the Union of Writers Makvala Gonashvili declared August 21 as the group rallied in front of their former office. She says they've taken the case to court and are expecting a decision in the next two days. "Until the court rules, the Ministry of Economic Development had no right to make us vacate," Gonashvili said. That's what she was counting on, anyway. The early morning knock on the door came as a surprise. "I was shocked, you know. We were carrying out our equipments and things and I saw the pictures of [famed writers] Ilia Chavchavadze and Galaktion Tabidze on the steps of the building," Gonashvili said. Union of Writers representatives claim the Supreme Court ruled in their favor last month in a dispute over ownership of the property. The Messenger was unable to obtain court documents, and it's unclear why the Ministry of Economic Development went ahead with the eviction. Four other groups, in other Old Tbilisi buildings, were also evicted that night: the National Independence Party, the People's Front political movement, the Social-Democratic Party and the newspaper Literaturuli Sakartvelo. Minister of Economic Development Giorgi Arveladze, addressing journalists on August 16 after sending the eviction notice, sought to downplay the significance of the group and its office while making it clear the building is considered state property. "I don't think that the Union of Writers existing at the expense of the state is the only way to develop Georgian literature," Arveladze said. He also pointed out that iconic Georgian poet Shota Rustaveli penned his epic work "The Knight in the Panther's Skin" without the comfort of an office. Union representatives claim the building has already been sold, and is fated to turn into a hotel. The government, they add, has not offered any alternative places for what they describe as a unique archive and library. Their protest was joined by Irakli Tsereteli of the National Independence Party. Tsereteli said he'd been on hunger strike for three days, with demands outstripping the Union of Writers' comparatively modest ambitions of a place for their books and pens. Tsereteli, himself the descendent of an illustrious writer, is calling for the resignation of President Mikheil Saakashvili, the release of what he terms political prisoners, and the restoration of Georgia's national identity. "I've gone on hunger strike because of the terrible things happening recently, and I will not stop until at least 50 000 march on Rustaveli Avenue to demand the president's resignation. If they don't come, I will die," Tsereteli declared. "It is worth sacrificing oneself for my country's future." The protestors said they would continue with the demonstration the next day. There was no immediate
comment from the Ministry of Economic Development. |
Union
of Writers loses office but not resolve
