EUROPEAN BRIEF OCPAS-EUR 89-081 FOR 08 APRIL 1989.

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005424732
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: June 24, 2015
• Document Release Date: June 28, 2010
• Case Number: F-2009-00834
• Publication Date: April 8, 1989

(b)(1)
(b)(3)
SUBJECT: EUROPEAN BRIEF OCPAS-EUR 89-081 FOR 08 APRIL 1989.
FROM: OD./O/`'PAS.
CONTENTS
0
u
T
G
0
I
N
G
M
E
S
J
A
G
E
APPROVED FOR RELEASED DATE:
29-Mar-2010
 r ,4
fl
 ACCORDING TO PRESS REPORTS, TROOPS AND ARMORED PERSONNEL
CARRIERS WERE DEPLOYED IN TBILISI YESTERDAY TO CONTROL A CROWD OF
S
S
A
G
E
0
U
T
G
0
I
N
G
M
E
S
S
A
G
E
S
 MORE THAN 100,000 PROTESTERS, MANY REPORTEDLY CALLING FOR GEORGIAN
INDEPENDENCE. THE PROTESTS HAD APPARENTLY STARTED ON TUESDAY IN
REACTION TO DEMANDS LAST MONTH BY ABKHAZIANS FOR THE SECESSION OF
THEIR AUTONOMOUS REPUBLIC (ASSR) FROM GEORGIA AND TO AN INCIDENT IN
WHICH ABKHAZIANS FIRED ON GEORGIANS AT A RALLY AT LESELIDZE. THE
GEORGIAN SUPREME SOVIET ON 31 MARCH REJECTED THE ABKHAZIAN PETITION
FOR DIRECT RULE OF THE ASSR BY MOSCOW LIKE THAT WORKED OUT FOR
NAGORNO-KARABAKH. SOVIET MEDIA REPORTED THAT THE ABKHAZIAN PARTY
CHIEF, WHO WAS RECENTLY ELECTED TO THE NEW CONGRESS OF PEOPLE'
WA$ DISMISSED BY GEORGIAN PARTY LEADERS ON THURSDAY,
COMMENT: GEORGIAN NATIONALISTS HAVE BEEN EMBOLDENED BY THE
ASSERTIVENESS OF THE OTHER NATIONALITIES IN THE CAUCASUS. CALLS FOR
GEORGIAN INDEPENDENCE PROBABLY BEGAN WITH A SMALL GROUP OF RADICALS
BUT MAY SPREAD IF PROTESTERS GAIN CONFIDENCE. THE REPUBLIC
GOVERNMENT IS LIKELY TO BEGIN ARRESTING PROTESTERS IN AN ATTEMPT TO
RESTORE CALM, EVEN THOUGH A SHOW OF FORCE MAY SPARK CLASHES AS IT
DID IN ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN LAST WINTER. THE ABKHAZIANS' ACTIONS
ARE CONFIRMING THE FEARS OF SOME SOVIET LEADERS THAT THE NAGORNO-
KARABAKH COURAGE OTHER MINORITIES TO DEMAND GREATER
AUTONOMY .
USSR
ABKHAZIAN ASSR POPULATION 486,082 . 85,285 ABKHAZIANS, WHO
ARE MUSLIMS, MAKE UP 17 PERCENT OF ABKHAZIAN ASSR POPULATION,
.01 PERCENT OF GEORGIAN REPUBLIC'S POPULATION . IN 1978
ABKHAZIANS PROTESTED AGAINST PROPOSED CHANGES IN REPUBLIC'S LANGUAGE
POLICIES, SUCCESSFULLY RETAINED ABKHAZIAN AS ASSR'S LANGUAGE.
0
U
T
G
0
I
N
G
M
E
S
S
A
G
E
~ ~ 1
 GRET