The timing was perfect. On a warm Sunday evening of November 23, the day of the protector of Georgia, St. George, tens of thousands of people continued to protest in front of the parliament building after the 20 rainy, cold days. Millions of Georgians were glued to their television sets, just about to watch the evening news.
The long-waited, yet still shocking news about the resignation finally broke at 8:50pm. After unplanned meeting with the opposition leaders at his residence, President announced he was leaving his post, “going home.”
Georgia suddenly became the center of the media world. Reporters of CNN, BBC, Euronews were covering the news live from the ground, feeling lucky they were witnessing the history. As a Georgian, and a journalist, I didn’t feel like a witness at all. I had a better part – I was one of the people who fought against a dirty lie, against injustice, and who won beautifully. I was among those who were making the history, and loving it.
The Sunday night in Tbilisi looked like New Year’s Eve, Independence Day and a celebration of the victory of the football World Cup, all together. The center of the city was flooded with honking cars, students waving flags and families with small children – all exchanging congratulations. People were drinking in every corner, most of the toasts made to “the future that begins today” (although the toasts were worded in much lengthy manner). Fireworks and loud national music added to the excitement and soon it became impossible to hear what a person next to you was saying. It was a real mass euphoria, a feeling of an unbelievable unity and honest, yet un-comprehended, happiness. I have to admit I almost felt sorry for the guy – who would like his resignation to be the reason of this kind of happiness?
As everyone here agrees, the biggest achievement of the Velvet Rose Revolution, as the leaders of the ex-opposition called it on every news channel, was its peacefulness. Those who come with blood have to leave with blood – is the belief that the Georgians have deeply ingrained. Even one lost life, one gunshot, one wounded civilian would ruin the perfection. And the Hollywood perfection was certainly present – young, educated, democracy-oriented leaders won, and old, ex-Soviet, regressive president lost.
Not many people really believed it would happen. Negative thinking, lack of self-esteem and overwhelming public nihilism were probably the most desired, and among the few successful political goals of Shevardnadze’s post-Soviet rule. Corruption was reigning, militia was robbing civilians, elections were forged – that’s how it always has been, and no one could change it. “It is an inevitable a part of our post-Soviet, transitional state” – was the phrase most often heard in the ex-President’s speeches.
That is why the days since the November 2nd elections were so exceptional for Georgians – the people were not only dissatisfied with their government, but this time they were taking action, believing in the possibility of positive changes and standing together, for better Georgia. On this November night every one of them got a chance to justly feel like a winner.
“Hello from Shevardnadze-free Georgia” was the phrase that first came into my mind Monday morning, when I was writing letters to my friends around the world. I need to say it aloud, talk and write about it as often as possible, to finally realize what really happened last night. Are we really free? Do we have a real reason to anticipate a better future? It’s impossible to say now, but this time I want to be positive, I want to enjoy the victory of novelty, victory of the idea.
The weekend thrill is gone, we have to go back to our regular routine and start thinking about how exactly our new leaders are going to deal with their responsibilities, how they plan to hold on to the top. The only thing I know for sure is, for the first time in my life I feel that this country belongs to me, and I am willing, and happy to belong here.
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