2004 Adjara crisis

2004 political crisis in Adjara, Georgia September 2026 2004 Adjara crisis the aftermath of the Rose Revolution AdjaraLocationinGeorgia.svg November 23, 2003 – July 20, 2004 Adjara, Georgia Government forces victory Aslan Abashidze flees to Russia Georgia Government forces of Georgia Patch of the Georgian Internal Troops (1997).png Internal Troops of Georgia Flag of the National Guard of the Republic of Georgia 2007-2020.svg National Guard of Georgia Adjara Anti-Abashidze protesters Adjara 2000 Adjara administration State Security of Adjaraicgpage11 Abolished with new constitutional law for Adjara in 2004, with reference to International Crisis Group (2004), page 11: "Under the new [2004] law, Ajara is prohibited from establishing ministries of interior, state security, and defence or any military bodies." Pro-Abashidze forces and protesters Flag of the Democratic Union for Revival.svg Democratic Union for Revival Georgia Mamuka Kiladze Adjara 2000 Aslan Abashidze The Adjara crisis (აჭარის კრიზისი tr), also known as the Adjarian Revolution or the Second Rose Revolution, was a political crisis in Georgia's Adjaran Autonomous Republic, then led by Aslan Abashidze, who refused to obey the central authorities after President Eduard Shevardnadze's ouster during the Rose Revolution of November 2003. The crisis threatened to develop into military confrontation as both sides mobilized their forces at the internal border. However, Georgia's post-revolutionary government of President Mikheil Saakashvili managed to avoid bloodshed and with the help of Adjaran opposition reasserted its supremacy. Abashidze left the region in exile in May 2004 and was succeeded by Levan Varshalomidze. Tensions Adjaran leader Aslan Abashidze, being in strong opposition to the Rose Revolution, declared a state of emergency immediately after Eduard Shevardnadze's ousting on November 23, 2003.icgpage6 International Crisis Group, 2004, page 6.https://www.crisisgroup.org/europe-central-asia/caucasus/georgia/saakashvilis-ajara-success-repeatable-elsewhere-georgia Saakashvili's Ajara Success: Repeatable Elsewhere in Georgia? ICG Europe Briefing 34 International Crisis Group 2004-08-18 2022-09-05 Following negotiations with central authorities, the state of emergency was temporarily canceled on January 3, 2004, just one day before the presidential election. The state of emergency was renewed on January 7 and was followed by the crackdown of an oppositional demonstration. On January 19, dozens were injured as a result of clashes between protesters and police in the southern Adjaran village of Gonio.https://civil.ge/archives/105077 Adjarian Police Foiled Protest Rally Civil Georgia 2004-01-19 2022-09-05 The protesters demanded the resignation of Aslan Abashidze. In the wake of Abashidze's visit to Moscow, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on January 20 backing Abashidze's policy and condemning his opposition as "extremist forces".https://civil.ge/archives/104987 Moscow Backs Abashidze, Slams "Extremist" Forces in Adjara Civil Georgia 2004-01-21 2022-09-05 In late January, Georgian officials, including Acting President Nino Burjanadze and President-elect Mikheil Saakashvili, met with Abashidze in Batumi.icgpage6 On February 20, the opposition movement's offices were again raided after the opposition had staged a protest rally in Batumi. Clashes between supporters of and opposition to Abashidze also took place in Kobuleti. These protests coincided with the visit of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe (CoE) Walter Schwimmer in Batumi, who held talks with Abashidze.icgpage6https://civil.ge/archives/105276 Opposition Raided in Batumi Civil Georgia 2004-02-20 2022-09-05 President Saakashvili demanded Adjaran leadership abolish the Autonomous Republic's Security Ministry, which was Abashidze's main weapon of repression.https://civil.ge/archives/105401 Tbilisi, Batumi up ante in War of Words Civil Georgia 2004-03-09 2022-09-05 At the Choloki Bridge thumb|left|Destroyed bridge over Choloki (May 2004) The situation escalated on March 14, when the central Georgian officials took advantage of Abashidze's being in Moscow and headed to Adjara to campaign for the parliamentary elections scheduled for March 28. However, pro-Abashidze armed groups blocked the administrative border of Adjara at the Choloki River and prevented President Mikheil Saakashvili and other members of the government from traveling to the Autonomous Republic. The Adjaran authorities claimed Saakashvili was going to take control over the region by force by staging a coup.https://civil.ge/archives/105434 President, Government Members Prevented to Visit Adjara Civil Georgia 2004-03-14 2022-09-05https://www.cacianalyst.org/publications/analytical-articles/item/8862-analytical-articles-caci-analyst-2004-3-24-art-8862.html De-escalation In Adjara: Success For Georgia's New Government The Central Asia-Caucasus Institute - Analyst Weekly Briefing 2004-03-24 2021-07-07 In retaliation, Georgia's central authorities imposed partial economic sanctions against its defiant region in a bid "to exhaust Adjaran regime's resources". Tensions defused between Tbilisi and Batumi on March 18 after President Saakashvili and Aslan Abashidze met and struck a deal that allowed for economic sanctions on Adjara to be lifted.icgpage7 International Crisis Group, 2004, page 7. An agreement was reached over disarmament of paramilitary forces in Adjara, release of political prisoners, joint control of the customs and port of Batumi, and providing conditions for free election campaigning in Adjara.https://civil.ge/archives/105493 Temporary Truce Civil Georgia 2004-03-18 2022-09-05 However, Abashidze refused to disarm his paramilitary forces in April.https://civil.ge/archives/105677 Tensions Grow, as Abashidze Says No to Disarmament Civil Georgia 2004-04-13 2022-09-05 On April 19 and April 21 respectively, Batumi-based military commanders Major General Roman Dumbadze and Murad Tsintsadze officially announced their insubordination to central authorities' orders.icgpage7https://civil.ge/archives/185316 Batumi-Based Interior Troops' Chief Mutinies Civil Georgia 2004-04-22 2022-09-05 On April 24, the Adjaran Senate approved Aslan Abashidze's proposal to impose a curfew in the region.https://civil.ge/archives/105756 State of Emergency in Adjara Prompts Saakashvili's Military Rhetoric Civil Georgia 2004-04-25 2022-09-05 According to the Georgian government, dozens of soldiers of Abashidze's elite special purpose unit began to leave the region and pledged loyalty to the country's central authorities.https://civil.ge/archives/105777 46 Soldiers of Abashidze's Elite Troops Flee Adjara Civil Georgia 2004-04-27 2022-09-05 Several Adjaran officials followed.icgpage7 Local opposition resumed the series of protests in Batumi, which were broken up severely on April 30.https://civil.ge/archives/105795 Protest Rally Disbanded in Batumi Civil Georgia 2004-04-30 2022-09-05icgpage7 At the end of April, Georgia launched its largest ever military exercises at the Kulevi training ground, near the Black Sea town of Poti.https://old.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=8712 Timeline 2004 – 30 April 2004 Civil Georgia 2004-04-30 2022-09-05icgpage7 The large-scale war games, some 30 km away from Adjara's administrative border, were a show of strength, amid the confrontation between the central authorities and the Adjaran leader. In retaliation, the two key bridges connecting Adjara with the rest of Georgia over the Choloki River were blown up by Abashidze's forces to prevent an incursion into Adjara allegedly planned by the country's central authorities.https://civil.ge/archives/105807 Adjara Blows up Key Bridges, Cuts Road Links Civil Georgia 2004-05-02 2022-09-05icgpage7 On May 3, the U.S. Department of State condemned Abashidze's actions, accusing him of "trying to provoke a military crisis", and called him to disarm.https://2001-2009.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2004/32109.htm Daily Press Briefing: Richard Boucher, Spokesman U.S. Departement of State 2004-05-03 2022-09-05 Adjara's revolution thumb|200px|Leader Aslan Abashidze (1991–2004) On May 4, a large opposition protest rally was attacked by the local security forces in Batumi. Dozens of protesters were reportedly injured. However, the violent break up of peaceful demonstration proved a catalyst for even larger protests later on the same day. Tens of thousands from all Adjara headed to Batumi demanding Abashidze's resignation.https://civil.ge/archives/105837 Major Rally in Adjara Mounts Pressure on Abashidze Civil Georgia 2004-05-05 2022-09-05icgpage7 Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania and Interior Minister Giorgi Baramidze crossed the Choloki River on May 5 and held talks with Adjaran Interior Minister Jemal Gogitidze. The latter agreed to withdraw his forces and paramilitary groups from the administrative border provided he would be guaranteed security.https://www.eng.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/3244/ Abashidze's supporters remove cordon at Adjaria's administrative border Caucasian Knot 2004-05-05 2022-09-05 Abashidze's position became untenable when local protesters took control of the central part of the city of Batumi and Georgian special forces entered the region and started to disarm pro-Abashizde militants.https://civil.ge/archives/105859 Tbilisi Dispatched Mine Clearers to Adjara Civil Georgia 2004-05-05 2022-09-05 Later on the same day, Secretary of the Russian Security Council Igor Ivanov arrived in Batumi.https://civil.ge/archives/105862 Russian Security Chief Meets Abashidze in Batumi Civil Georgia 2004-05-05 2022-09-05 Abashidze stepped down after overnight talks with Ivanov and left for Moscow.https://civil.ge/archives/105865 Abashidze Flees Georgia Civil Georgia 2004-05-06 2022-09-05icgpage7 Saakashvili left for Adjara shortly after Aslan Abashidze's departure and met at dawn of May 6 with celebrating Adjarans in Batumi.https://www.rferl.org/a/1052653.html Georgian President In Adjaria After Abashidze Flees Radio Free Europe 2004-05-06 2022-09-05https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/may/07/georgia.nickpatonwalsh Georgian President In Adjaria After Abashidze Flees The Guardian 2004-05-07 2022-09-05 "Aslan has fled, Adjara is free", President Saakashvili said on St George's Day and congratulated Georgians with what he described as "a second bloodless revolution" in Georgia.https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2004/5/6/saakashvili-wrests-control-of-ajaria Saakashvili wrests control of Ajaria Al Jazeera 2004-05-06 2022-09-05 President Saakashvili also said that Abashidze's resignation "will pave the way for Georgia's prosperity" and that "it will be the beginning of Georgia's territorial integrity".https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2004/05/06/georgian-president-reclaims-region/48a0b306-d076-4d10-a6ad-56d412124c8b/ Georgian President Reclaims Region Washington Post 2004-05-06 2022-09-05 On May 7, direct presidential rule was imposed in Adjara and a 20-member Interim Council was set up to run the Autonomous Republic before snap local elections would be held in the region. Levan Varshalomidze was appointed as the Chairman of the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara. Regional parliamentary elections were held on June 20. Victorious Adjara, a party backed by President Saakashvili won 28 seats out of 30 in the local legislative body. The remaining two seats were occupied by Saakashvili's former allies, members of the Republican Party. There were allegations of vote-rigging from the Republicans, after they won less than 15 percent of the vote.icgpage9 International Crisis Group (2004), pp. 9–10. On July 20, the Adjaran Supreme Council approved Levan Varshalomidze as the Chairman of the Autonomous Republic's Government.https://civil.ge/archives/115708 Head of Adjarian Government Approved Civil Georgia 2004-07-20 2022-09-05 He would hold the position until 2012.https://agenda.ge/en/news/2020/1588 Ex-head of Georgia's Adjara region, Saakashvili ally, to chair United Investment Office in Ukraine Agenda.ge 2020-05-21 2021-07-07 See also History of Adjara References External links Crisis in Ajaria: The Military Dimension In pictures Ajaria's 'velvet revolution' Georgian territories: Ajaria Timeline – 2004 Category:2000s revolutions Category:2003 in Georgia (country) Category:2004 in Georgia (country) Category:2003 in politics Category:2004 in politics Category:Georgia (country)–Russia relations Category:History of Adjara Category:Politics of Adjara Category:Protests in Georgia (country) Category:Rose Revolution Category:Operations involving special forces of Georgia (country)