On the 36th anniversary of the April 9 tragedy, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has accused “foreign powers” of both historical and ongoing attempts to “sow division and hatred” in the country.
In a commemorative statement on Wednesday, Kobakhidze drew a direct line between the violence committed by Soviet troops in 1989 and current political tensions in Tbilisi, which were sparked by the Government’s decision late last year to halt the country’s EU integration until 2028, accusing the west of “blackmail” and taking alleged actions to “drag Georgia into the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict”.
“Even today, a foreign power [in alleged reference to western powers] on Rustaveli Avenue is stirring up hatred, trying to artificially disrupt unity among Georgians, and fighting the idea of freedom,” Kobakhidze claimed.
The April 9 tragedy – also known as the Tbilisi Massacre – occurred in 1989 when Soviet forces violently dispersed a peaceful pro-independence demonstration in front of the Georgian parliament, killing 21 and injuring hundreds. The incident is considered a turning point in Georgia’s path toward independence and is now observed as the Day of National Unity.
“Today, 36 years after the April 9 tragedy, a foreign power is still committing violence on Rustaveli Avenue,” he claimed.
Kobakhidze concluded his address by calling for restraint and unity, saying Georgians “must honour the legacy of the April 9 victims by rejecting provocation and defending the values of love and freedom.”
“We believe that this is exactly what the souls of the heroes of April 9, who sacrificed their lives for the idea of love and freedom, expect from us,” he said. “Love and freedom will triumph over hatred and slavery in Georgia.”
