**Georgia Commemorates 36th Anniversary of April 9 Massacre**
Today, Georgia marked the 36th anniversary of the brutal crackdown on pro-independence demonstrators by Soviet troops in Tbilisi. On April 9, 1989, 21 people were killed and hundreds injured when Soviet forces used poison gas to disperse a peaceful demonstration. Most of the victims were women beaten to death with spades.
The commemoration took place against a backdrop of deepening political polarization and protracted civic resistance to the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party’s repression and U-turn on European integration. Anti-regime protests have been ongoing for over four months, with demonstrators protesting against what they describe as a state capture, and the systematic dismantling of democratic institutions, civil liberties, and freedom of expression.
**Government Avoids Mentioning Russia**
In a surprising move, the GD government avoided mentioning Russia in their statements on April 9. Instead, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze referred to the perpetrators as a “foreign power,” while other top officials echoed his rhetoric. President Salome Zourabichvili strongly condemned this approach, calling out the government for its failure to acknowledge the role of Russian troops in the massacre.
“Shame on you – the so-called government of Georgia: those merciless soldiers [who killed Georgians] were not a ‘foreign power,’ but ‘Russians,’ whom you do not even dare to mention!” President Zourabichvili wrote on social media.
**Tensions at the Memorial**
Protesters gathered at the April 9 Memorial in Tbilisi prevented several individuals affiliated with the GD party from approaching the site. Among those turned away were a city council member, a university rector, and an unidentified man draped in a Georgian Dream flag.
In contrast, U.S. Ambassador Robin Dunnigan and representatives of the Embassy of the Republic of Poland laid flowers at the memorial in a show of solidarity and remembrance.
**International Community Commemorates**
The international community has also commemorated the victims of the April 9 massacre. Civil.ge will continue to provide updates on this story.
**Related Stories:**
* **Georgia Commemorates April 9 Victims Massacred by Soviet Troops**
* **International Community Commemorates April 9 Victims Massacred by Soviet Troops**
This news may be updated…