Demonstrators Demand Georgia's President Resign

Demonstrators Demand Georgia's President Resign:
Feel Mikhail Saakashvill Lost His Right to Lead Country After Last Year's War with Russia

Written by: Karen Benardello


Tens of thousands of demonstrators demanded that Georgia's president, Mikhail Saakashvill, resign, as they feel he lost the right to lead the country after last summer's humiliating war with Russia. The demonstration, which was peaceful, took place outside parliament in Tbilisi. Opposition leaders vowed that the demonstration wouldn't stop until the president steps down.

The demonstrators' most bitter criticism of Saakashvill was how he handled the August conflict,which resulted in the loss of Georgian teritory as separtists and their Russian allies took full control over two of the country's regions. The war badly strained Russia's relations with the west, particularly the U.S., which has been a strong supporter of Geogia.

The demonstration was times to coincide with the 20th anniversary of an anti-Soviet protest that was crushed by soilders, which resulted in 20 deaths. The 1989 protest galvanized Georgia's fight for independence.