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Lost Legacy? Georgia and the Rose Revolution twenty years later

An interview with retired Ambassador Richard Miles, former US ambassador to Georgia.

Let’s begin with the Rose Revolution as you remember it. From your perspective, what exactly transpired 20 years ago?

RICHARD MILES: Well, it was a very interesting display of – I guess you have to say democracy – because what happened was what the majority of the population wanted. I wouldn’t say that it was entirely legal, but I do not think it was exactly illegal either. In fact, the country adapted to the revolutionary changes and the opposition leaders fairly easily. I should point out almost from the start that not all of the opposition leaders were supporting the demonstrations and therefore the Rose Revolution.

February 7, 2024 - Richard Miles Robert Finch - InterviewsIssue 1-2 2024Magazine

Richard Miles (left) visiting a Georgian border post in the north Caucasus mountains on the border with Russia while US ambassador there. With him is a delegation of Georgian and American officials, including the late Senator John McCain Photo: (CC) US State Department Archive

But I would say that the majority were, and the leaders of the opposition who were organizing people out on the street handled the transition of power fairly well. President Eduard Shevardnadze who was in power at that time was an unhappy man, obviously as anybody would be, and maybe made some statements that were a little bit too unfortunate. Yet on the other hand, he did abdicate peacefully. I’ve seen other efforts to overthrow existing governments, some a little bit bloody, some not so much. But the really interesting thing in my mind about the Rose Revolution is that it was almost completely bloodless. It was a civil disturbance, but buses were not overturned, cars were not burned, windows were not broken, shots were not fired. That was really one of the most interesting things about what actually happened, the peaceful nature of it all, despite the tension and the excitement and the stress. It was a peaceful overthrow of an existing government.

When you said that it was not exactly legal, what exactly do you mean by that?

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