Back to Rustavi... First day

That was my first time, when I really did not want to go back to Georgia, I was nearly crying in the airport, saying good-bye to my parents, my friends.. After all those events, beating of innocent people, shutting the most critical TV station of IMEDI. Maybe this is a coincedence that in Georgian 'imedi' means hope. Georgian authorities closed not just a TV station, they killed the hope of thousdands of people, who believed in all those democratic values voiced by government and personally by president and that this government is really comitted to these values, not just simply voicing, thus making a so-called democratic facade....

Two years ago Georgian president claimed that “if somebody dared to put pressure on media I would be his worst enemy. It is an attack on my own prerogatives, ideals and authority.” But last week the international community could observe horrible scenes of beating not only ordinary people, but also journalists. Friends of mine from Latvian society in Georgia told me that their friend who used to work as a journalist for IMEDI TV station, was beaten and threatened. Special law-enforcement unites, who stormed IMEDI before the announcement of the state of emergency and informational blokade, even confiscated mobile phones of journalists. This young girl now is sitting at home, having a deep depression....

My plane had to depart at 22:35 by Latvian time, but due to the delay we took off the ground only at 23:05. I was sitting, waiting and thinking.... that I do not wanna learn Georgian language anymore, that I do not see the purpose of stayning in Georgia for longer time, teaching local youngsers about European Union.. I do not wanna see this nation not only in Europe, in my Europe, but also as a member of NATO, which is not just a military strucutre, but also a political club, value driven organisation. If you wanna join our club, you should behave like us, embrace all that democratic values not just on paper, but also guideing yourself in your actions. And I do not wanna accept a country, which is trying to convince others that it has territorial (and not only) problems with Russia. I do not wanna let my friends fight for Georgia against Russia (Article 5, North Atlantic Treaty), if Georgia uses force against its own citizens..

Some friends of my tell me that such kind of scenes you could observe in any European nations - France, Italy, but they do not take into their minds the difference of the situation. Let's compare similar events in Latvia and Georgia!

I was driving from the airport back to Rustavi. I felt myself like a dog beaten by men, and who now distrusts each man, trying to approach or feed her. I distrust Georgians, I became more sober, my initial romantism and idealism regarding Georgian disappeared, it's gone. Georgia lost its very active friend, I think I am not the only one,...

I got up around noon, it was very cold in my room (there is no a central heating system in Georgia, but I do not have a gas or electric heater), observing from my bed, how my curtains were swinging because of the wind coming from the cracks of the window. I came out, went to Tbilisi, talking with my friends about recent political crisis. Some of them, who works for the government or is active in one NGO promoting NATO integration and organising election observation campaing, were trying to convince me that we should blame opposition, not the government, that the main force standing behind the riots - Russians. They agreed that there were some mistakes, how the authorities delt with the demonstartors, but the overall view, opinion of them was in defence of the current government, but all others (mainly opposition leaders) are "degeneraty" (disabled persons). I was aksed whom do I believe?... No one, I get and analyse the information I have and then make conclusions. Maybe for them actions of the government were correct and right, but not for me, European Latvian girl, who knows what does to live in a democratic state, committed to the Rule of Law.

Next I spoke with my friend from Latvian society, who told me horrible stories, how on November 7 people came to their house, begging for help. How they were screaming, because the police followed them and used force even in the house were our Latvian Honor consulate is located. I heard stories of the use of force in the Sameba church, even there police used force and tear gas, dissolving it with water, so it could be more poisonous. Staff of our consulated felt themselves like caught into a gas chamber, because even here (our building is located near the Parliament) they could smell the gas....

I am going back home now. It si too late, I have to catch a mini-bus, which going to Rustavi....