NationStates Jolt Archive

Georgian State Television

"Earlier today, just minutes after President Eduard Shevardnadze began to speak at Parliament, hundreds of people from opposition parties stormed into the parliament." says the announcer, "Shevardnadze then left with his bodyguards. Several hours ago, the Presidential Chancellory was seized by protesters."

Video of the storming of the Parliament is shown

"About an hour and an half later, Shevardnadze declared a state of emergency and said he will not resign while there is civil disobedience going on."

Video switches to that of the President speaking

"Just two hours ago, soldiers shut us off the air. They also did so to opposition-backing television station Rustavi2. We just returned to the air minutes ago. Rustavi2 still is off the air."

Images of the seizing of the Presidential Chancellory

http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/images/39515000/jpg/_39515170_outsideres_300220_afp.jpg
Entrance to the building.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/images/39515000/jpg/_39515172_army_300220_afp.jpg
Soldiers guarding the building simply move away, allowing the protesters in.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/images/39515000/jpg/_39515166_scuffle_300245_afp.jpg
Fighting between Shevardnadze supporters and opposition.

"We will continue to bring you the information to you as soon as possible."

State of Emergency Declared

President Shevardnadze appears on Imedi television, a privately owned television station, and gives the following speech:

"With such people around, a civil war may start tomorrow.

It is good that law-enforcers, primarily the Ministry of Internal Affairs, did not shed blood and did not use weapons. It is inevitable.

If I show weakness now, people will no longer forgive me.

Action is what we need now. Restoring order is what we need now.

Order can be restored only in the circumstances of a state of emergency.

The Defence Ministry, the Ministry of Internal Affairs know what should be done. Everyone, including the Internal Troops, will be subordinate to the Defence Ministry as of now and we will restore order.

This is what I had to say. No other assessment can be made with regard to it.

I find it very difficult to call it a coup attempt. But what else is a coup attempt then?"

Timeline of Events Today

1640: Opposition supporters storm the offices of President Shevardnadze

1619:Opposition leader Mikhail Saakashvili says President Shevardnadze can stay in office for a transitional period provided he calls early presidential elections

1503: Opposition leader Nino Burjanadze announces assumption of "the functions of the president until such time as it becomes clear whether he has the ability to continue"

1451: President Shevardnadze denounces attempted "coup d'etat" and declares state of emergency

1340: Outside the parliament building, President Shevardnadze says he will not step down, telling supporters: "I will only resign by constitutional means"

1323: Inside the parliament chamber, Mr Saakashvili declares: "The velvet revolution has taken place in Georgia"

1320: President Shevardnadze hustled out of parliament building by bodyguards

1314: Protesters storm parliament

1257: President Shevardnadze opens parliament session

1124: Police fire smoke canisters to disperse protesters as they move towards the presidential palace

1021: Mr Saakashvili gives Mr Shevardnadze 45 minutes to admit defeat in parliamentary elections

0927: President Shevardnadze calls on newly-elected parliament to convene

From Sliponian President Jesse Ross:

The nation of Sliponia is willing to send in military for peacing keeping matters. If this is agreeable, let my nation know and we will let you know how many sodliers we can spare.