Georgia in Political Turmoil after Opppostion Leader's Arrest

[Hissyspit]

Source: Agence France-Presse

Georgia in political turmoil after opposition leader's arrest
by Irakli Metreveli

TBILISI (AFP) - Georgia plunged into political turmoil on Friday following the arrest of a former minister who made stinging accusations against the country's pro-Western President Mikheil Saakashvili.
Irakli Okruashvili, once a key figure in the government of the former Soviet republic, was arrested on Thursday after alleging Saakashvili had ordered the killing of high-profile figures.

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In one of the strongest shows of opposition to Saakashvili since he came to power, several thousand demonstrators rallied outside Georgia's parliament building on Friday to denounce the arrest. Critics accused Saakashvili of trying to silence a potential rival and said the arrest of Okruashvili, who heads the Movement for United Georgia party, undermined the president's credentials as a democratic reformer.

Saakashvili delivered a fiery speech at the UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday in which he touted his government's democratic record and accused Russia of "subversion" in Georgia. The arrest took place against the backdrop of rising tensions between Georgia and Russia, as well as recent oubtreaks of violence in two separatist regions of Georgia.

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"A criminal organisation led by Saakashvili is in power in Georgia," he said. "The only solution would be the resignation of the president, the dismissal of parliament and early elections."

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070928/ts_afp/georgiapoliticsopposition_070928120102

[JCMach1]

1. Saakashvili is a genuine reformer who is moving Georgia forward-- Russian meddling

once again in one of the former Soviet States....

[Kagemusha]

2. So obviously the proper response is to arrest the man for speaking.

Cute.

[Philistine75]

3. Saakashvili is Stalin’s heir

Saakashvili is Stalin’s heir

How can Washington support dictator? I mean that Georgian president Cloacashvili or Saakashvili or what’s he called there. Look at him! This ‘democratic leader’ is very proud that his birthday concurs with birthday of another well-known dictator of the past Stalin. If I were a figure of such significance I would conceal such fact as thoroughly as I could. He’d also established verily Stalin repressions in the country. Everywhere I go in I-net I see those poor Georgian guys whining that they’re afraid of living in their fatherland.
Now following example of his idol Georgian president is getting rid of former brothers-in-arm seeing Russian spies in them. I’ve heard he even tortured little daughter of that Okrushvili (correct me if I called him wrong). Now he announced former State Minister of Georgia Khaindrava a spy of foreign security service receiving instructions for coup d’etat.
This more reminds witch-hunt in totalitarian states than spreading democratic ideas. So why do our know-alls from White House support this regime? May be they profit by this. But at the same time they discredit USA as democratic free country.