06 November 2003, 11:21
Discord between Georgian opposition activists: one part calls upon the other to refrain from holding protest actions
David Gamkrelidze, leader of the opposition bloc "New Rules", made an appeal to the opposition "National Movement" led by Mikhail Saakashvili, to the opposition bloc "Burdjanadze - Democrats" led by Nino Burdjanadze and Zurab Zhvania, and to the bloc "Ertoba" (Unity) led by Djumber Patiashvili. He called upon them to refrain from holding mass protest actions in Tbilisi that were planned for Tuesday. David Gamkrelidze said it was inadmissible "to show muscles so that to put pressure on the Central Election Commission."
As it was already reported, the political forces mentioned held a protest action in Tbilisi on Monday night, with thousands of people being participants. They demanded that the authorities should stop falsifying parliamentary election results and secure fair counting of votes. They announced they formed a "united resistance front".
Gamkrelidze told journalists that "the votes had not been preliminary counted yet so there were no grounds to speak about election frauds and the allegations about falsification of the election results were strange." It is worth noting that other political forces also opposed street protest actions. They are, in particular, the Labor Party led by Shalva Natelashvili, the Union of Democratic Revival led by Ajarian Republic head Aslan Abashidze, and "Industry Will Save Georgia" bloc led by Gogi Topadze.
