The Rose Revolution in Georgia

Witness History

BBC

History, Personal Journals, Society & Culture

4.4 • 1.6K Ratings

🗓️ 15 October 2024

⏱️ 11 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In November 2003, the people of Georgia ousted veteran president Eduard Shevardnadze.

Protestors stormed the parliament building in the capital Tbilisi, holding flowers in their hands.

It would become known as the Rose Revolution.

In 2011, Nino Zuriashvili, who was one of the protestors, spoke to Damien McGuinness.

Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.

Recent episodes explore everything from football in Brazil, the history of the ‘Indian Titanic’ and the invention of air fryers, to Public Enemy’s Fight The Power, subway art and the political crisis in Georgia. We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: visionary architect Antoni Gaudi and the design of the Sagrada Familia; Michael Jordan and his bespoke Nike trainers; Princess Diana at the Taj Mahal; and Görel Hanser, manager of legendary Swedish pop band Abba on the influence they’ve had on the music industry. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the time an Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes at the President of the United States in protest of America’s occupation of Iraq; the creation of the Hollywood commercial that changed advertising forever; and the ascent of the first Aboriginal MP.

(Photo: A Georgian woman holding flowers smiles as special forces leave without fighting. Credit: Sergey Supinski/AFP via Getty Images)

Transcript

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0:00.0	Before you listen to this BBC podcast I'd like to tell you why I love
0:03.7	podcasting I'm Natasha Aronson I'm an assistant commissioner for the BBC and I work on
0:09.4	making podcasts my real passion is discovering unbelievable unheard stories and working with the biggest
0:16.9	stars who can really bring those stories to life.
0:20.0	I love the whole process of making podcasts from the spark of an idea to hearing the final edit.
0:26.0	There's nothing like it.
0:28.0	What makes BBC podcast special is that we're working for you.
0:31.0	So whatever we commission has to reflect the things that you care about
0:34.4	and love wherever you are in the UK. So if you like this BBC podcast, there's so much more to
0:39.5	discover. Have a listen on BBC sounds. You're listening to the Witness History podcast from the BBC World Service.
0:49.0	We're taking you back to when the President of Georgia, Edward Shevernvernata was overthrown in what's become known as the Rose Revolution.
0:56.5	In 2011, Damian McGinnis spoke to one of the protesters, Nino Zuriashvili.
1:01.5	It's November 22, 2003, and thousands of anti-government protesters push their way into Georgia's national parliament. The elderly president, Edward Shevid Nadza, is giving a speech when suddenly the doors to the debating chamber are thrown open
1:26.2	and the demonstrators surge in.
1:28.8	At the head of the crowd is the 35 year old Michel Sarker Shvili who is carrying a long-stemmed
1:40.5	rows above his head and calling for the president to resign.
1:45.8	As security men hastily bundle President Shevid Naza out of a back door,
1:50.8	Mikhail Sakushvili confidently strides into the chamber, his aim to take control of the country.
1:58.8	It's the Rose Revolution.
2:00.9	That is effect. revolution.
2:08.0	That is the fact that there was no violence in these days. Only solidarity. People helped each other.
2:12.0	Nino Zorriash Vili was one of the protesters who had spent three weeks standing outside parliament.
	...

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