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Reburial for Georgia ex-president Reburial for Georgia ex-president
(about 5 hours later)
Georgia's first president after independence from the USSR, Zviad Gamsakhurdia, is to be reburied on Sunday in the Georgian capital Tbilisi. Georgia's first president after independence from the USSR, Zviad Gamsakhurdia, is being reburied in the Georgian capital Tbilisi.
Gamsakhurdia died violently in disputed circumstances in 1993 after being ousted from office.Gamsakhurdia died violently in disputed circumstances in 1993 after being ousted from office.
He was buried in Chechnya and his grave's location was secret for many years, but his remains were identified this month and returned to Georgia.He was buried in Chechnya and his grave's location was secret for many years, but his remains were identified this month and returned to Georgia.
Thousands have been queuing at his family mansion's gates to pay respects.Thousands have been queuing at his family mansion's gates to pay respects.
Many carried flowers and portraits of the former president, some cried as they kissed the coffin.Many carried flowers and portraits of the former president, some cried as they kissed the coffin.
Suicide or murder?Suicide or murder?
Zviad Gamsakhurdia was a dissident nationalist who led the movement for independence from the Soviet Union, and was then elected as president.Zviad Gamsakhurdia was a dissident nationalist who led the movement for independence from the Soviet Union, and was then elected as president.
He was a Georgian patriot and did good things for our nation - he made mistakes, but he was a good man Tbilisi residentHe was a Georgian patriot and did good things for our nation - he made mistakes, but he was a good man Tbilisi resident
But after he had been in office a few months, Georgia collapsed into civil war and he was overthrown by militia forces.But after he had been in office a few months, Georgia collapsed into civil war and he was overthrown by militia forces.
In 1993, he led a failed uprising against Eduard Shevardnadze, who replaced him as Georgia's leader.In 1993, he led a failed uprising against Eduard Shevardnadze, who replaced him as Georgia's leader.
According to people fighting alongside him, Gamsakhurdia then committed suicide, although his widow insists that he was murdered.According to people fighting alongside him, Gamsakhurdia then committed suicide, although his widow insists that he was murdered.
Gamsakhurdia's opponents saw him as a repressive, divisive nationalist, whose presidency led Georgia into violence and chaos.Gamsakhurdia's opponents saw him as a repressive, divisive nationalist, whose presidency led Georgia into violence and chaos.
But the current Georgian President, Mikhail Saakashvili, has praised Gamsakhurdia as a statesman and patriot - a view echoed by some people in the Georgian capital.But the current Georgian President, Mikhail Saakashvili, has praised Gamsakhurdia as a statesman and patriot - a view echoed by some people in the Georgian capital.
"He was a Georgian patriot and did good things for our nation. Of course we're all human and we all make mistakes - he made mistakes, but he was a good man," said one woman."He was a Georgian patriot and did good things for our nation. Of course we're all human and we all make mistakes - he made mistakes, but he was a good man," said one woman.
Others were less enthusiastic about his political skills.Others were less enthusiastic about his political skills.
"There was an opinion poll about Zviad Gamsakhurdia on television and a lot of people did not have a positive view of him. I think he was great for the independence movement but I don't think he had enough skills to lead the country," another man said."There was an opinion poll about Zviad Gamsakhurdia on television and a lot of people did not have a positive view of him. I think he was great for the independence movement but I don't think he had enough skills to lead the country," another man said.
The Georgian government has rehabilitated Zviad Gamsakhurdia's memory, as part of its agenda of promoting national pride.The Georgian government has rehabilitated Zviad Gamsakhurdia's memory, as part of its agenda of promoting national pride.
He will now be buried alongside some of the country's most respected figures. He is being buried alongside some of the country's most respected figures.
But questions remain about how he died - and about what responsibility he should bear for the conflict in the 1990s, from which Georgia has still not fully recovered.But questions remain about how he died - and about what responsibility he should bear for the conflict in the 1990s, from which Georgia has still not fully recovered.