The 2019 Georgian protests, also known as Gavrilov's Night or Protests in Georgia, refers to a series of anti-occupation and anti-government protests in the country of Georgia.
History
The protests began on June 20, 2019, in front of the Parliament of Georgia. The protests launched after Sergei Gavrilov, a Communist Party member of the Russian Duma who was visiting through the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy, sat in a chair reserved by protocol for the Head of Parliament. He delivered a speech in Russian extolling the Orthodox brotherhood of Georgia and Russia. Earlier that week, Gavrilov had voted in favor of the independence of Abkhazia. Following Gavrilov's actions, the Georgian opposition, mainly members of the European Georgia and United National Movement, blocked the speaker and called for protests that demanded the government's resignation. As night fell, Georgian law enforcement used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse protesters. Approximately 240 demonstrators were injured during the clashes with police and 305 protesters were arrested. At least two people experienced eye injuries and loss of vision due to rubber bullets, according to Giorgi Kordzakhiya, director of Tbilisi's New Hospital. The government accused protesters of attempting to storm the parliament building. Protests continued on next days demanding the resignation of government officials responsible for police actions, including the MIA of Georgia Giorgi Gakharia, and introduction of fully proportional election system instead of the existing semi-proportional. Protests calmed down after on June 24 the head of the ruling Georgian Dream Party, Bidzina Ivanishvili, partly satisfied demands of protesters by announcing a change to the electoral system. However, minor protests continued demanding the resignation of Giorgi Gakharia. Major protests renewed on November 13 after the Georgian Dream failed the promised electoral reform. On November 18, 20,000 people gathered in the center of Tbilisi demanding the resignation of government. Protesters blocked entrance to parliament and prevented legislative session from taking place. Riot police dispersed protests using water cannon, resulting in injury of 4 protesters and 2 policemen. On November 25 police had to use water cannon again in order to clear the parliament entrance, leaving 3 protesters heavily injured.
Results
Following the protests of June 20–21, 2019, Irakli Kobakhidze, Georgia's Chairman of Parliament, announced his resignation. After mass demonstrations on June 24 in Tbilisi, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream Party, Bidzina Ivanishvili, announced a change to the electoral system from a mixed to proportional representation for the 2020 elections and lowering the vote barrier for parties. United National Movement MP Nika Melia was released on bail he was charged with organizing, managing or participating in group violence, during the protests.
Reactions
signed a decree to suspend passenger flights carrying Russian citizens from Russia to Georgia, effective July 8. Russia's Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-being increased quality controls on Georgian wine and mineral water, seen as linked to the escalation in tensions. President Salome Zourabichvili shortened her visit to Belarus to attend the opening ceremony of the 2019 European Games and to meet with President Alexander Lukashenko following the beginning of the protests. In an interview with Euronews, Zourabichvili called for a "de-escalation" in the situation while also blaming Russia for stirring up a "fifth column" in the country that is loyal to Moscow. Russian Prime MinisterDimitry Medvedev denied these claims by saying it is a "distortion of reality". Zourabichvili also called on Russian tourists affected by the travel ban to keep coming to Georgia because "They love Georgia" and that "politicians must solve the problems". Russian Foreign MinisterSergey Lavrov criticized her remarks as "ultra-extremist" in a statement on June 25. On June 26, Nika Melia, an opposition leader was charged with organizing and inciting group violence. In July 2019, Russia denounced an expletive-laden attack on Vladimir Putin by Georgian TV host Giorgi Gabunia during a broadcast on Rustavi 2. On 8 September, Giorgi Gakharia became Prime Minister of Georgia. Between 14 and 25 November several Georgian dream MPs left the party, including 3 Conservative Party members consisting of: Zviad Dzidziguri, Gia Bukia and Nino Goguadze, Paata Kvijinadze remained in Georgian Dream however didn't leave the Conservatives, while Ruslan Gajiev defected to the Green Party and Mukhran Vakhtangadze to Georgian Dream proper. other MPs who left the party were: 1 member of the Green Party - Giorgi Begadze, along with 9 others, including – Tamar Chugoshvili, Tamar Khulordava, Mariam Jashi, Irina Pruidze, Dimitri Tskitishvili, Zaza Khutsishvili, Giorgi Mosidze, and Sofio Katsarava. Sofio Katsara also resigned as an MP. On 2 December, Akaki Zoidze resigned as an MP. On 10 December MP Aleksandre Erkvania left Georgian Dream.
