A state of emergency is declared in Georgia

Confronted by a big movement of popular dissent, the Georgian president Mikhaïl Saakachvili declared a state of emergency on November 7th. For the columnist Daniel Vernet, "the good international image of President Saakachvili cannot conceal the popular discontent, the scope and depth of which were displayed in the Tbilissi demonstrations. There are several causes for this unrest. First of all a natural distrust of central power among Georgians, which is swiftly transformed into rebellion. ... Also the allergy to all critical dialogue with those who do not believe the president is always right. ... The tendency to criminalize political adversaries makes one wonder about how seriously committed to democracy Georgia is. The leadership's reaction appears to be more a settling of scores between clans than the exercise of the peaceful democracy desired by Georgians who would like to be Europeans."

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