Blog updates on Tbilisi protests
Following on from an earlier post about the unprecedented use of online tools to cover the protests currently underway in Georgia, there are now some updates on the situation available over at Global Voices Online. True, the use of blogs, micro-blogs and social networking sites perhaps pales into insignificance if compared to other countries where Internet penetration is much higher, but it was quite outstanding for the region.
In particular, not only did Armenian, Azeri and Georgian journalists go online to cover the protests, but so did human rights lawyer and activist Anna Dolidze who made a welcome return to her Resistance Georgia blog. Special mention also has to be made of Frontline Club blogger Guy Degen who opened many eyes to the potential of live reporting from mobile phones. Anyway, much of their work is is quoted and linked to from the following posts:
Georgia: Concerns emerge over opposition protests
As the opposition blocks off main roads in Tbilisi, some bloggers and other online commentators are starting to question the tactics employed by protesters in the Georgian capital. Nevertheless, most are thankful that the protests have not resulted in major clashes.
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Georgia: Opposition protests enter fifth day
Despite dwindling numbers over the weekend, the opposition in Georgia has once again rallied an estimated 20,000 supporters in the capital, Tbilisi. Although well down on the 50,000 that demonstrated on Thursday, the number of those openly calling for the resignation of the Georgian president, Mikhail Saakashvili, did at least match those taking to the streets on Friday.
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Georgia: Opposition rally attendances wane, tensions increase
Yesterday, thousands of demonstrators once again rallied in Tbilisi for a third day of protests demanding the resignation of the Georgian president, Mikhail Saakashvili. The Real Clear World blog details the events so far.
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Links to previous coverage of the first two days of the protests are available on my last Frontline Club entry while new posts and news will undoubtedly appear first on Twitter at #tbilisi. Meanwhile, although the technical infrastrure is reportedly inferior to that in Georgia, it can be expected that such tools will also be used to cover the potentially problematic municipal election in Yerevan next month.