Despite assurances from Georgia’s defence minister David Tevzadze that the country’s armed forces were on the side of the new leadership, Mikhail Saakashvili said he feared for Georgia’s stability because “certain people are preparing a counter-revolution,” according to the Interfax news agency.
Yet the first blow to peace appears to have come from pro-opposition forces:
Splits are emerging within the opposition movement that forced Eduard Shevardnadze from power and there are fears that a new election planned for January could be as corrupt and chaotic as the ballot earlier this month that provoked the revolt.
Yesterday, an explosive device went off outside the headquarters of the country’s Labour party, which opposed Shevardnadze but also the new leaders, prompting fears of a major outbreak of violence.
Saakashvili from most accounts seems to be a Chalabi-style rogue, the more even-tempered Nino Burdzkanadze preferred by the U.S.
It seems doubtful the transition from revolution to elected govt. will be bloodless under his maneuverings.