Opposition Rally Demands Shevardnadze’s Resignation
Around five thousand protesters gathered in front of the Tbilisi Municipality late on November 21 after the protesters from the provincial regions arrived today in Tbilisi to demand President Shevardnadze’s resignation.
“Tomorrow we will overturn Shevardnadze’s regime. This is what the people want. We are facing peaceful, democratic, gentle revolution,” Mikheil Saakashvili, key opposition leader, who led the march on Tbilisi, said at a news briefing after arrival in the capital city.
“Georgia protests against Shevardnadze. Georgian citizens tell Shevardnadze: You could not guarantee free and fair elections and you must resign,” Zurab Zhvania, another opposition leaders said, while addressing the rally.
Couple of hounded meters from the opposition’s rally, government-led rally is being held, organized by the Revival Union party, led by Adjarian leader Aslan Abashidze.
“These people standing over there [referring on government-led rally] came here with intimidation from the authorities,” Zhvania said.
“We will not step back. Government tried to provoke clashes between the opposition and those people, who came in Tbilisi from Adjara. But it will never happen, because they are standing there without their own will,” Nino Burjanadze said today.
