Support for Georgia

Eastern Europeans in Britain displayed a united front in support of Georgia as Russia continues to occupy large parts of Georgian territory in defiance of international pressure, bringing hardship to thousands of Georgian civilians.


Many Georgians in Britain are worried about their relatives and friends facing the conflict in Georgia. ‘There is panic outside the capital Tbilisi’, said George Gazdeliani, a Georgian living in London. Georgian Keti Kalandadze remarked, ‘Every day we receive emails from our friends in Georgia describing difficult situations caused by the conflict’. According to the UN refugee agency estimates, the conflict has displaced around 100,000 people from their homes.


Around seven hundred people gathered in front of British parliament buildings on Saturday, as a show of support for Georgia, chanting ‘Russian troops out’. Gazdeliani said, ‘We came here to demonstrate. We want peace in our country.’ The remark was echoed by the oldest Georgian in the crowd, hundred year old Alexander Bestavachvili. He came with his wife and family to give his message, ‘Georgians want good neighbours.’


The crowds sported flags of Georgia, Lithuania, Moldova, Chechnya, Poland, Slovenia and Ukraine. The former members of USSR were alarmed at Russia’s attack on Georgia. One of the loudest voices urging the Russian troops to move out of Georgia was Ukranian Svitlana Prihno’s. ‘We have been independent for seventeen years now. Russia finds it hard to accept this,’ she said. ‘We don’t want Russians in Georgian territory. If she is not stopped now Russia will attack Ukraine next.’


The demonstration was part of a series of events held to push the British government into adopting a more serious diplomatic response to the crisis. ‘There have been strong words from the British government. But the Russians don’t understand strong words. The solution lies in a stronger diplomatic mission,’ said local guy Roger McCann.


McCann showed up for the demonstration in solidarity with the sufferings of the Georgian people. ‘I was in Moscow when Russia banned Georgian wine. Georgian wine is world-famous. That was shocking for me. Even the Russians were surprised.’ McCann visits Georgia every year to teach Georgian students management and marketing.









The sense of solidarity with Georgia seemed palpable among the demonstrators. ‘We share the same destiny’, pointed out Zita Cepaite, Editor of Infozona, a weekly Lithuanian newspaper published in UK. ‘Twenty years ago something similar happened in Lithuania when we were struggling for our independence. Russian troops came with their tanks to the surrounding areas of the capital Vilnius. I cannot forget those days. The only difference is that Lithuania handled the Russian provocation differently. We somehow got out of the situation.’


‘Russians have to keep their troops within their country, not with others,’ stressed Alan Kmadzm from Chechnya wryly. He held a Chechnyan flag as he shouted, ‘Russian troops out.’ Chechnya has been in continued conflict with Russia for the past several years.


‘I am not pessimistic, but one has to be cautious. Russia is a big and unpredictable country’, remarked Cepaite.


Meanwhile, the Georgians chanted ‘My country, why are you so sad?’ a poem written by national hero Ilia Chavchavadze. Bells rang in the background as protestors waved a flag with ‘Peace’ written on it.


‘Support Georgia,’ Telewizja Polska journalist Marcin Antosiewicz unabashedly proposed to a fellow journalist covering the demonstration. ‘I think it is important. It is not just a problem between Russia and Georgia but a problem with Russia. It is a power game.’

A lone French flag rose from the largely eastern European protestors. ‘I think Sarkozy did the right thing. He basically asked them to stop,’ mused Sofiane Mihoub, a French man living in UK. France, which assumed the E.U. presidency for a six month period, was successful in brokering a ceasefire between Russia and Georgia. But Russia continues to occupy Georgian territory in defiance of the ceasefire agreement.


Georgians are looking towards US and Britain for support in the present crisis. ‘It will make Russia think twice if they show support for Georgia,’ believes Andzej Maria Borkowski from Poland. In his visit to Britain last year Georgian President Mikhail Saakashveli had described UK as an ‘important supporter’ of his country’s ambition to NATO membership. Britain’s foreign secretary, David Milliband, is due to travel to Georgia later this week to meet Saakashveli.