Adelkhanov: Georgian opposition has no plan of further actions

On March 13, the opposition in Georgia declared a "tougher struggle"; however, it has no clear plan of further actions and no unified opinion about future strategy of confronting the authorities. This is the opinion of Emil Adelkhanov, deputy chairman of the Board of the Caucasian Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development.

According to his story, there is nothing new at the rally in Tbilisi these days what had not been used before.

"At least twice high-ranking officials have expressed the authorities' readiness to start dialogue with the opposition. However, the leaders of the latter assert that they refuse from the dialogue. Only Nino Burdzhanadze, sole of the opposition, voiced for dialogue, but the government gave no reply," Mr Adelkhanov said to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Yesterday, on April 13, the leaders of opposition parties made a decision to start round-the-clock picketing of the Avlabar residence of Georgia's President. This was stated at the yesterday's action held at the Parliament of Georgia, where up to 10,000 persons were present, by Kakha Kukava. "We'll stay at the residence until he resigns," he said.

However, protesters are not going to leave the square in front of the Parliament. Some activists plan to continue protesting in Rustaveli Avenue. Moreover, yesterday they put benches across the carriageway of the Avenue section near the Parliament aiming to completely block traffic there.

Levan Gachechiladze, one of oppositional leaders, has called the protesters to put moral pressure on the government: "When you come across some of the rulers in the street or some establishment, keep aloof from him or her. Let them feel the people's attitude."

In Mr Adelkhanov's opinion, the opposition, which is holding the rally with a demand of President Mikhail Saakashvili's resignation since April 9, is making accent on a sort of theatrical performances.

For example, the oppositionists have placed several cages in Tbilisi with the idea to symbolize that Georgia has turned into police state.

Today young men from the Movement named "Nashi" (Our Guys) held an action at the Georgia's embassy in Moscow. They lay down some 1500 faded roses at the gate of the embassy. The action was not sanctioned and lasted for half an hour; in spite of the fact that about a thousand young people took part in it, as various media report, no sanctions of law enforcement bodies were applied to them.

"We've brought faded flowers, faded roses of Georgian revolution. What happened in Georgia in 2003 brought no public prosperity, well-being and peace to Georgian people. They should no longer bear their half-mad president," Maria Drokova, Commissar of the Movement, said to journalists.

CK correspondent video from information meeting of Georgian opposition, Tbilisi, 13 April 2009: