Goodiashvili!

Gudiashvili Square protest continues by dfwatch.net

 TBILISI, DFWatch – People gathered Sunday on Gudiashvili Square, the third protest against plans to develop the historic area.

The rally was titled ‘Minifest as Manifest’ and saw another brandishing of paintings, handicraft and other artwork as well as refreshments and entertainment that continued into the night.

Gudiashvili lies just behind Freedom Square, and to visitors it is probably best known as the place where Cafe Pur Pur is located. It is one of those places in the old part of Tbilisi with narrow streets and tightly spaced houses that are barely standing and sorely need reinforcement works.

Tbilisi City Hall has a plan for giving the area a face lift which protesters however fear is too radical and will destroy its historic qualities.

The main request of the rally’s organizers and supporters is for the government to reinforce the buildings surrounding the square… Read more

Gudiashvili Square: protest and protect

Demonstrating that Georgia is also starting to develop a culture of civil society, traditional weekly gatherings on Tbilisi’s Gudiashvili Square are becoming popular among Tbilisi residents. These Sunday street demonstrations are one of the rare cases when people come together with very specific requirements without any political demands.

On January 15, Tbilisi’s community, caring about the look of the city and the preservation of its historical buildings, gathered in the square for the third time in order to show their displeasure and to protest the policy of City Hall. Citizens assert that City Hall officials have “left the historical, 18th century buildings located around the square without attention.”

In a very peaceful manner the protesters demanded that City Hall to respond to the question of “what will happen to Gudiashvili Square?” In addition, they are demanding that the government launch reconstruction work on the structures immediately, as the buildings are ailing and are in very bad condition.

The protests began following a new report that an Austrian company (Zechner & Zechner) won a tender, giving the company the right to rehabilitate the buildings surrounding Gudiashvili Square. The photos released along with the news showed that the original appearance of these historical buildings were lost in favor of modern looking urban architecture.

As the news spread and public outcry became strong, City Hall stepped back. On their official website they announced that they had nothing to do with the international competition for the “investment climate research” of Gudiashvili Square and never discussed the Zechner & Zechner project. In addition, City Hall declared on their website that they are looking for an investor for the Gudiashvili Square rehabilitation project estimated at around $15 million. The announcement also included images as to how the rehabilitated buildings will look in the future.

For many Tbilisians, Gudiashvili Square is highly- cherished for its exceptionally peaceful and beautiful atmosphere, so the government’s announcement was not enough to calm their concerns. Organizing a protest in the square, activists asked for the documents from City Hall that details the real plans in store for the Square…Read more