25.06.09 Rally in front of the Parliament

However this Government tries to drag the current political crisis in time, to speak that the Opposition is losing supporters, we are all very well aware that this is not true. In the nearest future we will show the Government that there are many people by our side;

serious rallies will be coming ahead, there is and will always be a serious support for the demand of Saakashvili’s resignation and early Parliamentary elections. We are all very well aware that agreeing on any other elections would be a wrong compromise, which will bring nothing good to the country. For this reason, all the political parties and leaders should define what they are fighting for: Presidential or Parliamentary or Local elections.

2008 Parliamentary Elections has shown us that the existing crisis in the country has further deepened, and that Parliamentary Elections did not bring any positive results for the country.

I would like to assure you that we are not going to retreat even for a step. We will fight till the very end to achieve our goal.

I want to also let you know that I am holding meetings with the representatives of the diplomatic missions accredited to Georgia. Their assessments of the current developments in the country indeed differ from what the Georgian media portrays.

I would like to share with you one example. As you are aware, the President of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus was on a visit to Georgia. I had an opportunity of talking to him about the underlying causes of political crisis in the country, and the terror waged by the Government including political detentions.

Rustavi 2 news reported about the meeting between Valdas Adamkus and President Obama. It was mentioned that President Adamkus called upon the Opposition to stop unconstructive activities against Saakashvili’s Government, stop violence and start acting according to democratic principles.

Following the meeting with President Adamkus, I was convinced that he would not make such a statement. We obtained official information from the President’s official web-page. The statement made regarding his meeting with President Obama reads that the President calls upon both Government and the Opposition not to allow violence, and for both parties to act according to democratic principles.

The Government is trying to frustrate you by using all methods, to make you feel that the world will not support you and that you are alone in this fight. Trust me, this is not true.

Yesterday itself I held twelve meetings. I can assure that there is immense interest and big concern over the existence of political terror in the country. I assure you that all international organizations publicly state that political terror in Georgia should stop.

I visited young people who are on hunger strike in front of the Mission of the European Commission to Georgia. These people met with Ambassador Per Eklund, Head of EC Delegation to Georgia, who promised them assistance ensuring objective and transparent investigation in the cases of people detained during rallies, and that young people in detention will be visited by a doctor.

We are trying not to leave any issues without attention. I would like to tell you that the representatives of diplomatic missions express interest and concern over these issues.

We will not allow the Government to treat members of our parties, those sharing our views and those in detention without any grounds, the way it wants.

I want to warn everyone who unjustly detains people, investigators and judges, that they will be held accountable for their actions.

In most cases, the judges who take five minutes to pronounce biased decisions regarding one or two month imprisonment are women, often looking at prosecution [for approval]. Think well, because you will have to look into the eyes of your own children. These young people, who you sent to prison illegally, are of the same age as your children.  

Trust me; the burden of responsibility will be too heavy.  None of the judges who take illegal decisions should have a feeling that he/she will not be held accountable. Everybody will be held accountable and very soon.

The Public Defender – Sozar Subari accomplished a comprehensive work. He handed over materials depicting violations and intimidation taken place in the last three month, to the representatives of diplomatic corps.
Trust me; we are doing everything, for the entire world to learn what is happening in Georgia. Saakashvili is spending many millions of resources so that the world does not hear you voice, and discredit us, however, everybody should know that it is impossible to silence peoples voice. We will not only make the world hear our voices, but achieve our goals as well.

We need certain changes in strategies and tactics; we need different planning, because we are embarking on a new stage; we need to select our partners correctly, since we should unite around a common vision and perform our work.

I am not going to retreat, and I am convinced that together with you we will achieve our goal.