2009 Georgian demonstrations

2009 Georgian demonstrations
Day 2 of demonstrations
Date9 April – 24 July 2009
Location
Caused byElection controversy
Political corruption
Poverty
Effects of the 2008 Russo-Georgian war
Human rights violations
Mass incarceration
GoalsResignation of Mikheil Saakashvili
Release of political prisoners
MethodsDemonstrations, civil disobedience, road blockades
Resulted inNo policy/leadership change in response to the protests
Parties

Government of Georgia

Lead figures

In 2009, a mass rally by a coalition of opposition parties took place in Georgia against the government of President Mikheil Saakashvili. Thousands of people demonstrated, mainly in the capital, Tbilisi, starting on 9 April 2009, demanding Saakashvili's resignation.[1] On the first day of demonstrations, up to 40,000 people gathered in Tbilisi.[2][3][4] Protests continued for over three months, although fewer people participated as time passed than during the first days. On 26 May 2009, the Georgian Independence Day, 60,000 protesters took part.[5] Although peaceful at first, there were incidents of fighting between the Georgian police and protesters.[6][7] The daily rallies gradually dwindled and ended, without achieving any tangible results, on 24 July –107 days after they kicked off.[8]

  1. ^ "Georgia set for political rallies". BBC News. 9 April 2009. Archived from the original on 11 April 2009. Retrieved 9 April 2009.
  2. ^ "Georgians protest into the night". BBC News. 9 April 2009. Archived from the original on 10 April 2009. Retrieved 10 April 2009.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference rferl was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Shields, Samantha (9 April 2009). "Georgians Plan Big Protest of President". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 11 April 2009. Retrieved 9 April 2009.
  5. ^ "Thousands attend Georgia protest". BBC News. 26 May 2009. Archived from the original on 28 May 2009. Retrieved 26 May 2009.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference civilge_clash was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference rows was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ End of Street Protests for Now Archived 26 May 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Civil Georgia. 27 July 2009