Eduard Shevardnadze

Eduard Amvrosiyevich Shevardnadze (Georgian: ?????? ??????????, Russian: ??????? ???????????? ????????????; pronounced ed-oo-ard am-vro-see-ye-vitch she-va-rd-nad-zuh) (born 25 January 1928) is a Georgian politician. He served under Mikhail Gorbachev as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Soviet Union from 1985 to 1990 and was the President of Georgia from 1995 until 23 November 2003, when he resigned in the midst of mounting criticism following disputed parliamentary elections. Shevardnadze's political skills earned him the nickname "Tetri Melia" ("White Fox"), while his former American negotiating partners, the first President Bush and Secretary of State James Baker, reportedly preferred to use "Shevvy".

Political Downfall

On November 2, 2003, Georgia held a parliamentary election that was widely denounced as unfair by international election observers, as well as by the U.N. and the U.S. government. The outcome sparked fury among many Georgians, leading to mass demonstrations in the capital Tbilisi and elsewhere. Protesters broke into Parliament on November 21 as the first session of the new Parliament was beginning, forcing President Shevardnadze to escape with his bodyguards. He later declared a state of emergency and insisted that he would not resign.

Related Topics:
November 2 - 2003 - Tbilisi - November 21 - State of emergency

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Despite growing tension, both sides publicly stated their wish to avoid any violence, a particular concern given Georgia's turbulent post-Soviet history. Nino Burjanadze, speaker of the Georgian parliament, said she would act as president until the situation was resolved. The leader of the opposition Mikhail Saakashvili stated he would guarantee Shevardnadze's safety and support his return as President provided he promised to call early presidential elections.

Related Topics:
Nino Burjanadze - Mikhail Saakashvili

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

On November 23 Shevardnadze met with the opposition leaders Saakashvili and Zurab Zhvania to discuss the situation, in a meeting arranged by the Russians. After this meeting, the president announced his resignation, declaring that he wished to avert a bloody power struggle "so all this can end peacefully and there is no bloodshed and no casualties". However, it was widely speculated that the refusal of the armed forces to enforce his emergency decree was the main cause of his resignation. He claimed the following day that he had been prepared to step down the previous morning, hours before he actually did, but was prevented from doing so by his entourage.

Related Topics:
November 23 - Zurab Zhvania

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Although it was unclear precisely what role foreign powers played in the toppling of Shevardnadze, it emerged shortly afterwards that both Russia and the United States had played a direct role. U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell communicated regularly with Shevardnadze during the post-election crisis, reportedly pushing him to step down peacefully. Russian foreign minister Igor Ivanov flew to Tbilisi to visit three main opposition leaders and Shevardnadze, and arranged on late November 23 for Saakashvili and Zurab Zhvania to meet Shevardnadze. Ivanov then travelled to the autonomous region of Ajaria for consultations with the Ajaran leader Aslan Abashidze, who had been pro-Shevardnadze.

Related Topics:
Russia - United States - Colin Powell - Igor Ivanov - November 23 - Zurab Zhvania - Ajaria - Aslan Abashidze

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Shevardnadze's ouster prompted mass celebrations with drinking and dancing in the streets by tens of thousands of Georgians crowding Tbilisi's Rustaveli Avenue and Freedom Square. The protesters dubbed their actions a "Rose Revolution", deliberately recalling the peaceful toppling of the Communist government in Czechoslovakia in the "Velvet Revolution" of 1989. Observers noted similarities with the overthrow of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milo?evi? in 2000, who was also forced to resign by mass protests following rigged elections. The parallel with Yugoslavia was reinforced when it emerged that the Open Society Institute of George Soros had arranged contacts between the Georgian opposition and the Yugoslav Otpor (Resistance) movement, which had been instrumental in the toppling of Milo?evi?. Otpor activists reportedly advised the Georgian opposition on the methods that they had used to mobilize popular anger against Milo?evi?. According to the then editor-in-chief of The Georgian Messenger newspaper, Zaza Gachechiladze, "It's generally accepted public opinion here that Mr. Soros is the person who planned Shevardnadze's overthrow". IWPR reported that on November 28, in an interview held with the press at his home, Shevardnadze "spoke with anger" about a plot by "unspecified Western figures" to bring him down. He said that he did not believe that the US administration was involved.

Related Topics:
Tbilisi - Rose Revolution - Czechoslovakia - Velvet Revolution - 1989 - Yugoslav - Slobodan Milo?evi? - 2000 - George Soros - Otpor - IWPR - US

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The German government invited Shevardnadze to live in Germany, where he is still widely respected for his role during the 1990 reunification of the country. It was reported (although never confirmed) that his family had bought a villa in the resort town of Baden-Baden. However, he told German television on November 24, "Although I am very grateful for the invitation from the German side, I love my country very much and I won't leave it." He reportedly plans to write his memoirs following his enforced retirement. His wife Nanuli (whom he married in 1951) died on October 20, 2004.

Related Topics:
Germany - 1990 - Baden-Baden

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~