Georgia: Prison Riot Fuels Destabilization Theory

Prisoners' relatives waving outside the prison in Tbilisi where a riot broke out (InterPressNews) Georgian police on March 27 used force to suppress a prison riot that purportedly aimed at aiding the escape of thousands of inmates. The authorities claim what they describe as an aborted jailbreak was part of plans to destabilize the country. They also suggest the criminal underworld and the opposition have a common interest in the alleged conspiracy. This is not the first time the government and its allies have leveled such accusations. But they have become more frequent lately, as the country's leaders face mounting domestic criticism.

PRAGUE, March 29, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- It took security forces some three hours to quell the riot at Tbilisi's Prison No. 5.

The operation involved hundreds of heavily armed police officers and prison wardens. Seven inmates died in the unrest and another 22 were wounded. Twelve security officers were injured.

Georgian officials spoke out against the unrest -- and praised the security forces for their resolution of the incident.

Parliament speaker Nino Burjanadze told lawmakers on March 27 the attempted jailbreak was part of a broader scheme to spread chaos across Georgia. She also said the aborted riot and an alleged armed attack that damaged a major power supply line in Georgia's northwest the night before were "two links of the same chain."

"A very serious attempt at destabilizing the situation in the country is under way. Very serious forces are at work within the country to trigger instability," Burjanadze said.

To an opposition legislator who was inquiring why the Justice Ministry had failed to prevent a riot it says it knew was in the offing, Burjanadze bluntly replied: "I am very surprised that you're not saying anything about what happened this morning at three o'clock, when the entire city of Tbilisi, when each of us and each of our children was facing the prospect of seeing 4,000 prisoners suspected of serious crimes ending up in the city."

Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili gave an even more serious assessment, claiming the planned jailbreak involved up to 6,000 inmates. He praised the security forces for averting a "catastrophe."

Addressing an emergency Security Council meeting on March 27, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili asserted that the unrest was aimed at undermining his government's efforts to restore law and order in the country. Saakashvili also hinted at purported ties between his political opponents and criminal bosses, whom he pledged to continue fighting.

An ambulance enters the prison compound on March 27

"[Criminal bosses] have in recent weeks enjoyed the support of forces speaking from television screens, from the parliament's rostrum, and in the streets where Georgian police are being constantly vilified, whereas the police have the trust and support of society," Saakashvili said. "Obviously, [these people] must have thought this was the right time to act. They think we are weak and afraid of them. But all these bandits, robbers, thieves, and other scum are wrong. They're dealing with a different government now."

The following day, the opposition attempted to make the overwhelmingly pro-Saakashvili parliament investigate the prison unrest. However, the initiative failed, with pro-government lawmakers accusing their political foes of "patronizing criminals."

Government Under Fire

Confronted with mounting domestic criticism, the Georgian authorities have hardened their stance in recent weeks.

Recent street rallies have attracted thousands of demonstrators into the streets of Tbilisi and other Georgian cities to protest new trade regulations and increasing police violence.

Opposition leaders have backed traders' demands that the government rescind a decision to make cash registers mandatory in all marketplaces. And rights campaigners have demanded that Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili resign over the recent killing of a bank employee. Several police officials have been charged with the murder.

Government officials have stood firm on both issues. They have responded to opposition complaints, accusing their leaders of manipulating society with a view to protecting their purported mercantile interests.

The mayor of Tbilisi and several pro-government lawmakers earlier this month publicly blamed an opposition legislator for an overnight firethat partially destroyed a school. They claim the legislator owns shares in a company that could benefit from reconstruction work.

All opposition parties have denied those charges. They have accused the authorities in turn of exerting "political terror" on their adversaries.

'Security Risks'

Another accusation brought by the government against its critics is that they are putting Georgia's stability and interests at risk.

Presidential administration chief Giorgi Arveladze said on March 17 that recent street rallies played into hostile foreign hands. He also warned that the time of dialogue with the opposition was nearing an end.

"Those people are serving oligarchic and sometimes -- unfortunately -- criminal interests. Sometimes also, those protest actions are being staged with the sole purpose of being broadcast and commented upon on Russian television. But we will not be drawn into televised battles. The government has already commented on all important issues and we have other things to do," Arveladze said.

Claims that purported ill-wishers both inside and outside the country are looking forward to witnessing Georgia's collapse have been a recurrent feature of Saakashvili's political discourse -- especially in times of crisis.

In this respect, this week's events were no exception to the rule.

Less than 24 hours after the prison riot was quelled, the Interior Ministry announced the arrest of a presidential administration official suspected of spying on Georgia at the behest of an unspecified foreign country.

Commenting on the arrest, which was broadcast on all main television channels, Saakashvili claimed an entire network of spies was at work in the country: "Georgia is no longer a mere territory. Georgia is now a state, with its own [national] interests and security. Unfortunately, this state also has ill-wishers who want to destroy it completely and bring it to its knees."

Saakashvili said he would give alleged spies until May 1 to surrender in return for an amnesty.

"Those people should know that they're not working against a specific government, or president, but against their own country, against their children, and for the benefit of our opponents," he added.