Time for two sides to show responsibility

The most recent developments in Georgia are perfect proof that the unsettled rhetorical and political stalemate in the country is doomed to escalate into violence or instability. So, is not now time that both sides -government and opposition, take responsibility for the political processes in Georgia and act to diffuse the looming crisis?

On May 5 the protestors rallying outside the Georgian Public Broadcast attacked and beat up the news journalist Nika Avaliani. He had tried to remove the improvised barricade placed before the entrance of the company. His protest irked the demonstrators who insulted him both verbally and physically. Avaliani ran off towards the Tbilisi Zoo and some young protestors followed him.

On the following day, May 6, a clash occurred between opposition rally members and law enforcers outside the Tbilisi police division. The clash started after the protesters tried to enter the police division`s yard. Georgian singer Utsnobi, participant of Cell #5, an anti-Saakashvili reality show on Maestro TV, tried to climb over the fence. Special units were mobilized at the site. Several persons were injured in the ensuing violence. The protesters demanded the release of three activists who were detained on charges of beating journalist Nika Avaliani the previous day.

Meanwhile, a delegation foreign ambassadors were hosted by the deputy ministers today. The Ministers stated the incident the night before had nothing to do with democratization in Georgia, calling it instead`an attack on the police`. The diplomats called upon the opposition and the authorities to refrain from provocations and sit at the table of negotiations. I think that type of violent acts is unacceptable and the only way forward is to get to dialogue without preconditions,` the head of the European Commission Tbilisi office declared.