If a space alien landed on Rustaveli Avenue, the elegant main street of the Georgian capital Tbilisi, they might think it’s a party. Crowds of people surge down the street, traffic blocked by police, many wearing the red and white Georgian flag, or the European Union’s blue flag with a circle of 12 twelve golden stars, like capes. Every few minutes another group marches by, clutching banners and flags, beating drums, blowing whistles and chanting slogans. There are the “Sportsmen against Violence” (they mean government security force violence); or college students holding a sign “Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite,” and chanting “Sakartvelo!” (the name for Georgia in the Georgian language); or young people with a large white banner challenging the riot police: “Hey, robocop, you are born to be a slave.” It’s Saturday night, but amidst the boisterous atmosphere, Georgians who have participated in nightly protests for the past month are exhausted,…
