Renowned Georgian chess grandmaster Nona Gaprindashvili recounts “premeditated, brutal” dispersal of May 26 demonstration under former UNM Gov’t

Georgian Parliament’s Temporary Investigative Commission examining alleged crimes committed by the former United National Movement Government between 2003 and 2012 on Monday reviewed grave human rights violations during the violent dispersal of the May 26, 2011 demonstration in Tbilisi.

During the session, the Commission heard testimony from prominent chess grandmaster and civic activist Nona Gaprindashvili, who recounted her experience during the events.

Speaking before the Commission, Gaprindashvili described the crackdown as a premeditated and brutal operation.

“What we endured on May 26th was a planned operation designed to punish us. I call it a slaughterhouse because no one could have imagined what transpired there”, she said.

Drawing a stark contrast with previous demonstrations, Gaprindashvili emphasised the unprecedented nature of the crackdown.

She emphasised that, unlike other protests in Georgian history, the May 26 protest left demonstrators completely trapped.

“There have been many protests since April 9, but nothing like this. That night, we were surrounded by three security cordons with no way out. On April 9, people were chased, but at least they had somewhere to run. On May 26, there was no escape”, she concluded.