28. 05. 09 Protest Rally at Rustaveli Avenue

I would like to greet you, people full of endurance and hope!

Every leader of the country should know that people do not forgive injustice. You can endure many things, but you will never tolerate injustice and offended dignity.

His Holiness made a statement today, in which it was noted that on 26 May the Government was not going to compromise and therefore clashes and bloodshed was to be expected had the protesters acted abruptly. The most worrisome is the fact that the Authorities are ready to resort to any means. We are all aware that this Government is capable of doing something like this, but they cannot intimidate us. On 26 May we have once again proved that we want to achieve the changes to take place in the country through peaceful struggle.

On 26 May, multitudes of you, young and old were so hurt that there was indeed a threat of complication of the situation. We had enough wisdom not to let young men overpowered by emotions and having tears in their eyes to go to TV premises and demand that the entire Georgia be made aware of the pain of the people who were protesting in the streets. On that day there was a real threat for the situation to get uncontrollable which would have been followed by unallowable bloodshed.

I am convinced that though our struggle, through our protest actions in all parts of Georgia, we will show the Government that it is time for it to resign.

We will act through new methods of struggle. Needless to say, all these methods will be peaceful, constitutional and civilised, however these will be methods which will lead us to victory.

The Authorities stated that the Patriarch articulated what the Government had been stating for a long time, which is that a “dialogue” is the only way for resolving the crisis. The Patriarch spoke about   “negotiation” and not a “dialogue”. There is a principal difference between these two words.

We are ready today itself to start negotiations over the terms of the President’s and Government’s resignation. We have been mandated by all of you to hold such negotiations.

We are going to renew our activities. I am convinced that until our struggle ends successfully, picketing of Rustaveli and Avlabari Residence should continue.

We are not going to retreat even a step; we will walk only forward and show everyone that this country deserves to become a democratic State.

The Government which offends dignity of its own people cannot attain any success. The Government states that there is no time for political struggle in the country since the Russian troops are being deployed near Tbilisi. I would like to pose a question: Whose fault is it that Russian troops are deployed in Georgia?

While you are standing 24 hours in the streets irrespective of rainy or windy weather, the President is leaving for Italy to attend a football match.

The President who lost 20 percent of the country’s territory and let Russian military bases to be re-deployed in Georgia will definitely be held accountable in front of the people.