FROM REVOLUTION TO DICTATORSHIP
Vardan Grigoryan
"Hayots Ashkharh"
9 Nov 07
The only thing the Georgian rose leaves behind is the thorn
It was perhaps by some irony of fate that the Sahakashvili
Administration adopted the model of obvious tyranny in Georgia,
a country that was proclaimed as the citadel of democracy just four
years ago, after the "Revolution of Roses". Especially, considering
that the developments occurred on November 7, the 90th anniversary of
establishing the Bolshevik dictatorship in Russia. Under the directive
issued by President Sahakashvili, who had come to power through
demonstrations and acts of disobedience, acts of mass violence were
organized against the peaceful demonstrators and the hunger-strikers
on the 7th of November, a state of emergency was proclaimed for a
period of 15 days, the demonstrations and strikes were prohibited,
the activity of some mass media was discontinued.
On November 7 the Georgian President, who was considered a democrat,
showed the whole world a mode of action characteristic to the most
usual dictator, i.e. organizing massive scuffles and subjecting the
peaceful demonstrator to gas attack.
The organized attack on "Imedi" television, broadcast all over the
world, was particularly shocking. It reminded of the episodes of the
coup d’йtat organized by the Pinochet servicemen in Chili.
It is well-known that the Western countries always pay a special
attention to the issue of ensuring freedom of speech; therefore, they
now have to distinguish themselves from the cruel acts committed
by the Sahakashvili regime and make appeals of conciliation and
dialogue. However, to what extent is such practice justified, when
the Administration itself previously chose the Bolshevik practice
of accusing the rivals of high treason in order to reckon with the
Opposition.
And the publication of some incomprehensible records of the
conversations of the employees of the Russian Embassy in Georgia
and the leaders of some pro-Opposition parties were so unconvincing
and artificial that even the Speaker of the US State Department
distinguished himself from such accusations during his speech.
The drama performed in Tbilisi on November 7 came to prove the
well-known political-scientific fact that it is impossible to achieve
an in-depth change of the political and economic system through
colored revolutions. The only thing the imported flowers, i.e. the
roses, leave behind is the thorn, which begin pricking the hand of
the importers themselves. Now, President Sahakashvili’s dictatorship
becomes a serious problem not only for Georgia but also the "importing
country", i.e. the United States.
The political fiasco lauded by the roses should, in the near future,
become a bitter lesson for our political forces and politicians as
well. The thorough and comprehensive study of that lesson will be
strictly important for proper orientation, especially during the
forthcoming internal political developments.
Certain forces and figures acting on the political arena of Armenia
during the recent years made the "Rose Revolution" of Georgia a
specific textbook of political science, studying which they wanted to
lead our people into the same temptations. Now, it will be interesting
to listen to their enthusiastic assessments once again. But the most
ridiculous thing will be the comparison of those assessments and the
current developments.
Because, if a revolution is staged in a country with the purpose of
establishing tyranny at the end, why then is the former administration
accused of being tyrannical?
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