Systemic changes should take priority over leadership shifts in Georgia

Systemic change and improved system of checks and balances is a guarantee that the newcoming decision-makers are not tempted to monopolize power in their hands. The balanced political system will prevent public discontent with the government concentration of power and will consequently avoid protest rallies requesting resignations, dissolutions and early elections. It is highly advisable that the major political players in the country agree on the democratic rules of the game and initiate dialugue on the specific systemic changes in Georgia. The pending question is this: can space for dialogue between the ruling and opposition parties be achieved?

Meanwhile, the opposition leaders announced, that they would keep "modest" rallies over the weekend, during the Orthodox Easter, and would launch "last phase" of their drive to force President Saakashvili to resign from next week, involving mobilization of supporters in the provincial regions, also by creating so called civil committees.

Opposition leaders strongly denied that there was some sort of difference in their positions about the agenda of potential meeting between them and President Saakashvili. Opposition warned it would resort to self-defense "with bare hands" to protect its activists and supporters from attacks. Reports of isolated cases of attacks on opposition supporters and activists have been coming almost every day from the very first day of start of protest rallies on April 9.

Also on April 16, Gia Karkarashvili, who was a commander of the Georgian armed forces during the Abkhaz war in early 90s, convened a separate press conference and warned he and his allies would set up "self-defense committees" to fill the policing vacuum in and around the protest venues. Karkarashvili is now affiliated with the Irakli Alasania's political team.