City Hall launches 'rehabilitation work' in front of Parliament
By Natalia Kochiashvili
Friday, January 24
Activists of the civil movement Dare inserted a barbed wire on the fence installed in front of the parliament building. Referring to the parliament, the Shame Movement inscribed on the fence “Bidzina's Vegetable Garden.”
Activists say the barbed wire is "a symbol of the occupation that Kaladze and Ivanishvili are carrying out." They say rallies will still be held despite the fence in front of parliament.
The pedestrian path adjacent to the Parliament will be temporarily blocked. Rallies were held for several months before which the City Hall removed the protestors' tents and installed New Year's attractions and flea market stalls.
According to city Mayor Kakha Kaladze, rehabilitation works are planned there and “there will be new tiles, fountains will be fixed and greenery will be arranged". Kaladze did not specify when work would end.
'Greenservice,' the company executing the rehabilitation works in the fenced area says according to the contract, the results should be handed over to the Tbilisi City Hall within two months.
Kaladze said that the project was purchased last May or June.
On January 22, he announced:
"Today we are starting the rehabilitation works in front of the Parliament, which is in a very difficult situation. I would also like to assign my deputy, Sopho Khuntsaria, to the April 9 memorial.”
Kaladze added that it will be 'one of the most beautiful spaces,' once the works are finished. However, he didn’t specify the date when the rehabilitation process will end.
According to Irakli Bendeliani, Tbilisi's Vice Mayor, the rehabilitation works have not started because there is a protest zone there. He said as it is a central location of the city, its rehabilitation was planned based on public appeal. According to Bendeliani, the City Hall purchased the project documentation last year.
Malkhaz Machalikashvili, the father of Temirlan Machalikashvili, killed during a special operation in Pankisi, said he would continue protesting.
“I am protesting, I will come here, put up a tent, put up a banner. Tell me why you killed my son and tell me who killed him,” Machalikashvili told the main channel.
It is noteworthy that the opposition announced the renewal of the pickets as the spring session of parliament will start.
European Georgia’s MPs responded to the Tbilisi City Hall's erection of a green fence around parliament.
“Let no one be under the illusion that by installing attractions, bringing open-mouthed sharks, or building green walls they can artificially prevent people from protesting. The people's protest will stop once the problems that brought them to streets are eliminated,” MP Davit Bakradze commented.
Elene Khoshtaria called the fencing ridiculous: “The authorities are frightened of rallies, but of course there will be rallies. On the contrary, they have made blocking the road easier. There will be protests in the area, near Bidzina's house and their office. The picketing will continue as well. It just makes the government look even more ridiculous.”
Giga Bokeria called the fence "an accurate symbol of the very gap between Ivanishvili's government and his clowns and society."
