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Georgia to Lift Emergency Rule

Saakashvili cuts restrictive decree short in an attempt to limit political damage

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 14, 2007 4:44 PM CST
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(Newser) – A state of emergency that began a week ago in the former Soviet republic of Georgia will be lifted Friday, the government announced today. The New York Times reports that the speaker of the Georgian Parliament said he hoped lifting President Mikhail Saakashvili's restrictions on free speech and public assembly would allow the country to "return to normal." 

Although the restrictions were prompted by six days of mass protests, the capital, Tbilisi, has been still since the decree. Despite the relative calm, the damage has been done to presidency of Saakashvili, who has long been accused of using his government as a political weapon. Saakashvili had already called for early elections, which could shave a year off his term.

Activists of the Young Russia movement, holding their flag, shout during a ptotest against Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili outside the Georgian Embassy in Moscow, Monday, Nov. 12, 2007. U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew J. Bryza urged the Georgian government Monday to immediately lift the state of emergency...
Activists of the Young Russia movement, holding their flag, shout during a ptotest against Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili outside the Georgian Embassy in Moscow, Monday, Nov. 12, 2007. U.S. Deputy...   (Associated Press)
Opposition leader Ivlian Khaindrava speaks at a meeting of the united opposition with foreign diplomats in Tbilisi, Georgia, Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2007. From right, Georgian opposition leaders Salome Zurabishvili, Kakha Shartava, Levan Gachechiladze. The opposition complained that the ban on independent broadcasts and official harassment of opposition leaders have prevented...
Opposition leader Ivlian Khaindrava speaks at a meeting of the united opposition with foreign diplomats in Tbilisi, Georgia, Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2007. From right, Georgian opposition leaders Salome Zurabishvili,...   (Associated Press)
Georgia's President Mikhail Saakashvili gestures speaking at a meeting with school teachers in Tbilisi, Georgia, Monday, Nov. 12, 2007. Saakashvili called early presidential elections for Jan. 5 to defuse the political crisis, the worst he has faced in nearly four years in office. (AP Photo / Irakli Gedenidze, Pool)
Georgia's President Mikhail Saakashvili gestures speaking at a meeting with school teachers in Tbilisi, Georgia, Monday, Nov. 12, 2007. Saakashvili called early presidential elections for Jan. 5 to defuse...   (Associated Press)
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What soured the promise of Saakashvili's presidency?
International Herald Tribune

 
Georgia • state of emergency • Mikheil Saakashvili

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