PARLIAMENT BUILDING

It carries a heavy historical burden and an enormous weight in daily life in Georgia: the Parliament is at the heart of the country's political life, the main witness punctuating every event. In front of its doors, the Georgian people regularly come to demonstrate, peacefully or in a more muscular manner (the authorities know how to respond in the same way). A rendezvous, then.

In recent decades, some of these demonstrations have degenerated into tragedy. On 9 April 1989, nineteen demonstrators on hunger strike were massacred by Soviet troops (a commemorative plaque is located on the right-hand side of the road going up Rustaveli). Parliament also witnessed the beginning of the "Rose Revolution" on 22 November 2003. In June and November 2019 it was again the centre of demonstrations against the policy of the current government.

Started in 1938, its construction was completed in 1958 by German prisoners of war. In 1991, the Parliament was at the centre of armed conflicts between supporters and opponents of President Gamsakhurdia, the latter not hesitating to strafe the building with the besieged president inside.the building was refurbished by the next president, Shevardnadze. The Parliament was moved to Kutaisi before returning to its original quarters in Tbilisi.

The chancellery, the seat of the presidency, is located behind the Tavisouplébis Moédani metro station. The presidential palace rises above Riké Square. It is the Georgian "White House".