Three beaten at opposition rally in Zugdidi
By Eter Tsotniashvili

Opposition leader Goga Khaindrava narrowly
escaped a pummelling in Zugdidi

The United National Council’s political rally in Zugdidi erupted in violence on October 28.

The Interior Ministry announced yesterday that two men have been jailed and five others fined GEL 400 for their involvement in an assault on the opposition coalition’s campaigners during the event, which opposition leaders described as a “rehearsal” for the planned mass protest on Friday.

Democratic Front MP Bezhan Gunava and Conservative Party MP Bidzina Gujabidze, as well as Lasha Chkhartishvili of the Equality Institute were attacked during the protest in Samegrelo province, western Georgia.

Soso Robakidze—a political activist whose son Amiran Robakidze was shot dead by police officers in disputed circumstances in 2004—was also beaten in the incident.

On Sunday evening Imedi TV broadcast footage of Gunava being assaulted, showing him running into a shop to escape a violent mob of men.

The footage showed uniformed police officers standing by.

“There were policemen but they did not take any measures to stop the incident,” Chkhartishvili said afterwards.

Earlier in the protest Chkhartishvili and Gujabidze’s wife were arrested by non-uniformed men claiming to be police officers, and released without charge shortly after.

On October 29, the United National Council held a conference outside parliament, demanding a full investigation into the incident in Zugdidi.

MP Zviad Dzidziguri from the Democratic Front suggested the assailants were acting on orders from high-ranking government officials, claiming to have seen former Ministry of Internal Affairs spokesman Guram Donadze giving orders to the mob, Rustavi 2 reported.
 
Robakidze, who was hospitalized on Sunday, told Imedi TV that approximately 50 people were involved in the incident, and declared that the opposition have not lost momentum before the planned protest on November 2.

Parliamentary Speaker Nino Burjanadze condemned the attack, stating that violence would only widen the gap between the government and opposition, damaging Georgia’s national interests.

She also drew attention to the apparent lack of police action and called on them to be more active in maintaining the public order, according to Rustavi 2.

Influential ruling majority MP Giga Bokeria also underlined the inefficiency of local police, although he stated that the violence was the result of provocations from the opposition, who bussed in supporters to a town where locals did not back their cause.

Human Rights Ombudsman Sozar Subari described the incident as “one more piece of evidence of the government’s intolerance” towards peaceful protests.

“[It] reminds me of [the November 2003 Rose Revolution] when armed gangs were attacking and dispersing the opposition,” Subari said on October 29.

October 29 also saw the official beginning of Georgia’s NATO week—a government initiative involving a variety of rallies and events to demonstrate Georgia’s commitment to joining the alliance—which will last until November 3.

The administration has accused the United National Council of timing the November 2 protest to disrupt the NATO event, but opposition MPs claim that the protest was organized before the NATO week was announced.

A concert is to be held on November 2 at a Tbilisi stadium as part of the NATO event.

Another, unrelated, event will begin on November 1 when 18 foreign delegations arrive in Tbilisi to attend the four-day summit, “Building Europe’s East.”

When the Messenger contacted the president’s press office, they claimed the summit was organized in summer, long before the opposition rally was announced, although they could not specify a date.

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