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OFFICIAL SAYS SITUATION CALM IN SOUTHERN GEORGIA AFTER POLICE, PROTESTORS CLASH
Rustavi-2 TV, Georgia
Oct 9 2006
[Presenter] Shots were heard today in the centre of Akhalkalaki. At
about midday members of [opposition party] Industry Will Save
Georgia's local branch and their supporters gathered outside the local
administration building. They were protesting against the results of
the local elections [on 5 October]. The police attempted to break up
the rally and that was when an unknown person opened fire. Clashes
then broke out. Two law-enforcement officers were wounded and several
people have been detained.
Local governor Goga Khachidze joins us live by telephone. Batono Goga,
what happened today in Akhalkalaki and was there shooting?
[Khachidze] I would like to tell you that at the moment Akhalkalaki
is completely calm. The situation is under control. As for this
incident, a certain group of people wanted to enter the local electoral
commission offices, which is illegal. Therefore, police prevented this
attempt and clashes broke out. As a result police and law-enforcement
officers were lightly wounded, as were some members of this group.
[Question] Did they have to be taken to hospital?
[Khachidze] I don't have information about that.
[Presenter] One of the leaders of Industry Will Save Georgia, [MP]
Zurab Tqemaladze, says the incident was an act of provocation and
members of his party were only protesting peacefully against the
election results while carrying flowers.
[Tqemaladze] As an expression of peaceful protest, they went to the
local electoral commission offices and local administration building
carrying roses, to set out their position and call for the final
results to be clarified.
Of course, this was a peaceful protest but there was some kind of
provocation. It will now be established who did this and who was behind
it. Let's see. I have spoken to the head of our local organization and
he said that they had nothing to do with the provocation and do not
intend to do anything similar. This will all be resolved peacefully.
[Georgian Imedi TV at 1100 gmt showed Industry Will Save Georgia MP
Gia Tsagareishvili saying: "As far as I have been informed, they were
holding a peaceful protest when some provocateur fired into the air.
Clashes broke out between protestors and representatives of the local
government. Now it is calm there and talks are taking place in the
local administration building where the local electoral commission is
located. This is a problematic region from this point of view. There
is an Armenian population there and this clash was between residents
of Akhalkalaki. We are monitoring the situation and will do everything
possible to make sure the situation is defused and resolved as soon
as possible."]
Rustavi-2 TV, Georgia
Oct 9 2006
[Presenter] Shots were heard today in the centre of Akhalkalaki. At
about midday members of [opposition party] Industry Will Save
Georgia's local branch and their supporters gathered outside the local
administration building. They were protesting against the results of
the local elections [on 5 October]. The police attempted to break up
the rally and that was when an unknown person opened fire. Clashes
then broke out. Two law-enforcement officers were wounded and several
people have been detained.
Local governor Goga Khachidze joins us live by telephone. Batono Goga,
what happened today in Akhalkalaki and was there shooting?
[Khachidze] I would like to tell you that at the moment Akhalkalaki
is completely calm. The situation is under control. As for this
incident, a certain group of people wanted to enter the local electoral
commission offices, which is illegal. Therefore, police prevented this
attempt and clashes broke out. As a result police and law-enforcement
officers were lightly wounded, as were some members of this group.
[Question] Did they have to be taken to hospital?
[Khachidze] I don't have information about that.
[Presenter] One of the leaders of Industry Will Save Georgia, [MP]
Zurab Tqemaladze, says the incident was an act of provocation and
members of his party were only protesting peacefully against the
election results while carrying flowers.
[Tqemaladze] As an expression of peaceful protest, they went to the
local electoral commission offices and local administration building
carrying roses, to set out their position and call for the final
results to be clarified.
Of course, this was a peaceful protest but there was some kind of
provocation. It will now be established who did this and who was behind
it. Let's see. I have spoken to the head of our local organization and
he said that they had nothing to do with the provocation and do not
intend to do anything similar. This will all be resolved peacefully.
[Georgian Imedi TV at 1100 gmt showed Industry Will Save Georgia MP
Gia Tsagareishvili saying: "As far as I have been informed, they were
holding a peaceful protest when some provocateur fired into the air.
Clashes broke out between protestors and representatives of the local
government. Now it is calm there and talks are taking place in the
local administration building where the local electoral commission is
located. This is a problematic region from this point of view. There
is an Armenian population there and this clash was between residents
of Akhalkalaki. We are monitoring the situation and will do everything
possible to make sure the situation is defused and resolved as soon
as possible."]