The FINANCIAL — The events taking place in Georgia'sbcapital, Tbilisi, are far from revolutionary so far, State Duma deputy and CIS Studies Institute Director Konstantin Zatulin said in interview with ITERFAX.
"Everything is proceeding normally for the time being, and no symptoms of a revolution are visible," Zatulin told Interfax on Friday.
"What is going on was prompted by the revolutionary crisis that brought Mikheil Saakashvili to power. This is the result of the sort of deadlock in [Georgia's] foreign and domestic policy," he said. "But this is not the way to cure the country. Such a method is not visible in Georgia so far," Zatulin said.
Both Saakashvili's associates and supporters and the opposition are equally sticking to "pro-American and anti-Russian views," he said.
Alexander Konovaov: Tbilisi protest is not anti-Western
“Alexander Konovalov, a political analyst with the Institute of Strategic Assessments in Moscow said in interview with Voice of America the Tbilisi protest is not anti-Western.
Konovalov says the protest is not against pro-Western policies. Instead, it is a pro-Georgian demonstration. He adds that the Georgian opposition is fragmented, but that if any faction were to gain power, it would most likely lean toward the United States.
Political tensions in Georgia escalated following accusations of corruption and anti-state activities against President Saakashvili by his former defense minister, Irakli Okruashvili. The president's former ally later retracted the charges”.
Patarkatsishvili’s Statement on Plans to Finance Opposition
" Recent developments, including wave of protest rallies makes me think that the country is on the verge of a serious political crisis. Statements and actions of politicians, in the most cases, even further strains situation.
I hope everyone, first and foremost the authorities, fully understand the responsibility they have to prevent provocations that may trigger developments beyond the constitutional frames. This will be lose-lose situation, especially for the Georgian people.
I think today it is a responsibility of every person to help the country in order to find a solution to the existing situation.
Opposition’s scarce finances may become one of the reasons behind possibility of dangerous developments. Time is needed for everyone to fully acknowledge and understand what the society demands and based on this knowledge undertake certain steps.
As a result, I have decided to provide financial assistance to the National Council of Unified Public Movement [a body coordinating joint campaign of ten opposition parties] to help them secure management of protest rallies in a civilized manner.
I fully support demands outlined by [ten opposition parties] in their joint manifesto.
I believe that the developments will not go beyond the constitutional frames and the opposition will remain united and committed to principles outlined in the manifesto. I think this [manifesto] reflects demands of the Georgian people and I also share these [principles] as an ordinary citizen of this country."
Murdoch got 100 % shares of Georgian Imedi TV
Co-founder of the TV-Radio Broadcasting Company Imedi, Badri Patarkatsishvili has granted his own shares of the Company to the world biggest Transnational Company News Corp, Imedinews.ge reports. Now Company News Corp will be the only owner of the complete share package of the TV Company Imedi.
Imedi, a television station jointly owned by tycoon Patarkatsishvili and Murdoch’s News Corp.
William-Rupert Murdoch, AC, KCSG (born 11 March 1931) is an Australian American global media executive and is the controlling shareholder, chairman and managing director of News Corporation, based in New York. According to Wikipedia online encyclopedia, beginning with newspapers, magazines and television stations in his native Australia, Murdoch expanded News Corp into British and American media, and in recent years has become a leading investor in satellite television, the film industry, the Internet, and other forms of media.
He is one of the few chief executives of any multinational media corporation who controls the company by reason of his own stake in it, held via a family trust.
Martin Pompadour, Central and Eastern Europe director of the company News Corp Europe and Vladimir Voronov, Head of the Corporation NewsMedia arrived in Tbilisi on October 31, 2007 .
Business and media tycoon, Badri Patarkatsishvili, said last week he would finance ten opposition parties’ campaign aimed at holding parliamentary elections in April, instead of late 2008.
Earlier, Patarkatsishvili said he fully supports the idea of the possible introduction of constitutional monarchy in Georgia, which was earlier proposed by Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II of All Georgia.
"Such a country as Georgia should not be ruled by one person. Let Mikheil Saakashvili govern the country, but I want other people to govern the country together with him," Patarkatsishvili said on the Imedi television channel.
According to Presiident’s State Administration website, in case of inability to discharge the authority of the President of Georgia or pre-term termination of his/her office, the President of the Parliament shall exercise the responsibilities of the President of Georgia, whereas in case the President of the Parliament is unable to discharge the authority of the President of Georgia, as well as if the Parliament is dissolved the Prime Minister shall exercise the responsibilities of the President of Georgia.
During the period of discharging the authority of the President of Georgia by the President of the Parliament, one of the Vice-Presidents shall perform the duties of the President of the Parliament.
During the period of discharging the authority of the President of Georgia by the Prime Minister a member of the Government having the authority of the Vice-Prime Minister shall perform the duties of the Prime Minister.
Back to 2003: U.S. Statement
Statement bellow was issued on November 23, 2003.
"The U.S. supports the stability and sovereignty of a democratic Georgia and is committed to helping the Georgian people emerge from this crisis.
The people of Georgia have heard the call of Mikheil Saakashvili and his colleagues in the opposition to move to a new stage in Georgian politics.
We look forward to working with Interim President Burjanadze in her effort to maintain the integrity of Georgia's democracy as she strives to ensure that this change in government follows the constitution. The United States and the international community stand ready to support the new government in holding new free and fair parliamentary elections as required by the Constitution.
Secretary Powell has called Interim President Burjanadze to offer our support and to encourage her and her colleagues to proceed in a manner consistent with Georgia's constitution.
We know that President Shevardnadze's decision was difficult, but that he made his decision in the best interests of the people of Georgia. President Shevardnadze has been a towering figure in Georgian history and a close friend of the United States. We have worked with him for more than three decades on a variety of key global issues.
Thanks to President Shevardnadze, Georgia emerged from a difficult period and civil war in the mid-1990's to become a valued member of the international community.
Because of his contributions, millions of people living in the former Soviet Union are free today to pursue their own dreams in states committed to political and economic reform.
Secretary Powell has spoken to President Shevardnadze and thanked him for his role in bringing this crisis to a peaceful resolution.
We continue to urge all Georgians to work together to find a way forward without recourse to violence."
Last week United States ambassador to Georgia expressed hopes that the demonstration organized by the united opposition outside parliament will be conducted without violence and the government and the opposition will have dialogue. He said the demonstrations were the part of democracy, which is protected by the constitution. U.S. envoy hopes Georgia will be able to develop democratic institutions.
BBC: How the Rose revolution happened
In November 2003, a revolution took place in Georgia – a revolution of a kind the turbulent region had never seen before.
Not one person was injured, not a drop of blood was spilled.
Tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets to protest against the flawed results of a parliamentary election. The demonstrators demanded the resignation of Eduard Shevardnadze, a man who had ruled Georgia for more than 30 years in total, as its Soviet-era Communist Party boss and its longest-serving post-independence president.
Mr Shevardnadze told protesters they risked causing a civil war and he deployed hundreds of soldiers on the streets of Tbilisi. At that point, student demonstrators decided to give red roses to the soldiers.
Many soldiers laid down their guns.
Misha is Mikhail Saakashvili, the US-educated 35-year-old firebrand who, on 23 November, led the demonstrators to the parliament building.
Along with thousands of his supporters he forced his way through the thick wooden doors of the parliament chamber where Mr Shevardnadze was inside, giving a speech.
Mr Saakashvili held a long-stemmed red rose above his head and shouted "Resign!"
He waved the rose in the face of Georgia's 75-year-old president.
Mr Shevardnadze's bodyguards rushed him out of the parliament building by a back door.
That was the moment that power changed hands in Georgia
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