Just arrived back in Tbilisi for another three weeks packed with plans and projects, ideas and meetings. I’m happy to be once again staying with my friend Otar Karalashvili and his family.
One of our favorite things to do while I’m here is talk—about photography, art, design, the educational system, and what it would take to change the world. And of course, politics: what’s happening in both our countries and on the world stage, just trying to make sense of it all. Not an easy task these days.
On this day 36 years ago, horror descended upon Tbilisi as Soviet forces violently cracked down on peaceful protesters, leaving 21 people dead and hundreds injured in the streets of the capital. Since then, this day has become one of the most significant in Georgia’s history and so again today, people are gathering on Rustaveli Avenue in remembrance and protest.
Honoring this memory I am sharing a now-iconic photograph made on this day by Georgian photographer Yuri Mechitov, that was also featured in our 2018 book „Tamar, Where Are You?“.
Ghia Nodia is a professor of political science at Ilia State University and director of the Caucasus Institute for Peace, Democracy, and Development in Tbilisi, Georgia. In a recent article published online in the Journal of Democracy, he analyzed the current situation in Georgia, laying our why Georgians will never give up. „Everyone realizes that if the public is defeated now, there might not be another chance for a long time.“
Meaning another chance to turn things around because, as he states, „the ruling party’s fundamental weakness is that its policies go against the core of Georgia’s national project as long understood and endorsed by most of its people“. It’s a compelling read to understand what’s at stake for the Georgian population.
Honoring 34 years today since Georgians declared a thundering YES to independence for the world to hear.
Congratulations Georgia!
Thirty-Four years ago on March 31st., the Georgian people were asked a very simple question: „Do you agree or disagree with restoring Georgia’s state independence based on the Act of May 26, 1918?“
To which an overwhelming majority of 98,9 % answered „Yes“. Thus, the Georgian independence was once again restored, following its first independence from 1918 to 1921 and 70 years of Soviet occupation.
So today, once again be a big rally will take place in Tbilisi celebrating the referendum including an appearance of President Salome Zourabishvili who is said to announce an action plans of democratic powers.
