David Bakradze

Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia David Bakradze during the measures dedicated to the 20th anniversary of dispersal by the Soviet troops the demonstration in Tbilisi (Georgia), on Thursday, April 9, 2009. The mass protest actions dedicated to a dispersal by the Soviet troops the demonstration in Tbilisi take place in Georgia this day. During the measures Mikheil Saakashvili wreathed flowers to the monument of participants of the dispersal. On April 9, 1989 the special subdivisions of the Soviet Army dispersed a peace rally in front of Palace of Government of that time at Rustavelli Square. During the dispersal 16 people died during the protest action of dispersal and 4 people died from received injuries. The 21st victim - Giya Karseladze – perished from bullet of the Russian soldiers during a curfew announced in Tbilisi. There were 17 women among died people. The main demand of participants of the action on April 9, 1989 was renewal of independence of Georgia. The first statements with this demand appeared in Tbilisi in November, 1988. The large-scaled actions started from April 4, 1989. Group of students-participants of the action announced a hunger strike, which lasted up to the dispersal of the action. Thousand participants gathered at the square in front of the Georgian parliament in order to honour the memory of 20 perished people in 1989 and to demand resignation of Mikheil Saakashvili. Photo by Gudanidze Irakly/UNIAN