Tbilisi – During the day they sit in the lecture hall, in the law firm or work as models. But at night they put on masks and go to where tens of thousands of people have been protesting against politics in front of the government headquarters for eleven days von Georgia-Prime Minister Iraqi Kobachidze (46) demonstrate: on the square in front of the parliament in the capital Tbilisi. BILD tells the stories behind the masks.
„The Punisher“ ist Mathe-Student
“His name is Jonny (26), he is a mathematics student and calls himself “The Punisher”. His fantasy mask is not only intended to have a frightening effect on the state power, it also serves a medical purpose. Jonny: “Them Special forces fired tear gas at us. I got a projectile on the cheek. It was opened. The mask will now protect me if we are targeted again.”
The student is determined: “I don’t call myself ‘The Punisher’ for nothing. I will fight for our freedom. Every day until we get new elections.”
Andria, the cleaner
During the day, Andria (24) works as an assistant in an administration building in Tbilisi. Since the elections on October 26th, he has wanted to defend himself and has been going to parliament every night. “The results were falsified. They don’t want us to join the EU. The government is afraid of our desire for freedom.”
Andria is in the front row of the demonstrators! Using his gloves, he grabs the fired, hot gas cartridges on the street and dips them into a bucket of water. “Then they lose their effectiveness,” says the cleaner.
The lawyer and the model
Lika (31) is a lawyer in a law firm in Tbilisi. Her specialty: family law. Her friend Teo (26) works as a photo model. Every evening the women go to Parliament Square wearing balaclavas and gas masks and demonstrate with their compatriots against the government’s Russia-friendly policies. “We are free people and want to live in a free system in Europe. This is our right, we will fight for it.”