Lomography

georgia

Georgia is one of the Caucasian countries, that wants to losen the Russian grip on the Region. After the velvet revolution a few years back US-educated President Saakashvilli took over the reign from former SSSR minister of foreign affairs Shevardnadse, who still is a legend to many. After the change, democracy developed quite well and it is said, that in terms of media and freedom of speech Georgia is a good example for the whole Eastern hemisphere. But the economic situation remains complicated, because the country is depended on Russian gas and electricity and even more so on the payments of fellow countrymen working in Russia. I have the impression, that the Georgians are quite impatient and want to have an instant improvement of their social and monetary situation. Therefore the situation is quickly on fire and things could easily get out of control. In the end of September 2007 president Saakashvilli imprisoned a former minister and ally of him, who accused him of murder. This guy founded his own party and wanted to rise again from the ashes as a phoenix. The charges for sentencing him were corruption and blackmailing. The people and the opposition, on the other hand, thought that the president is abusing his powers to get rid of an opponent. The outcry was massive and on September 28th there was a demonstration in front of the parliament. The biggest opposition parties called for the people and the people came. The whole square was packed with crowd and they even climbed onto monuments and waved their flags. As so did I, hence it was the very best view on the scenery. Beforehand some even feared, that there is something happening like a counterrevolution and Saakashvilli is casted away. But nothing alike. The people demonstrated and the media in the west didn´t even take notice of it.