# February 2 massacre

The February 2 massacre (Georgian: 2 თებერვლის მიტინგის დახვრეტა) was a pro-Zviad Gamsakhurdia protest in Tbilisi, Georgia in 1992 that was violently suppressed by the forces of the Military Council. The death toll from the massacre is estimated to range in the dozens; however, the exact number of casualties remains unidentified to this day.
It is considered the bloodiest day in modern history of Georgia in terms of crackdown against peaceful protests.

## Background

Following a two-week 1991–1992 Georgian coup d'état, Zviad Gamsakhurdia who had won presidential elections on 26 May 1991, was toppled on 6 January 1992 in Tbilisi. As he fled to Armenia and later to Chechnya, his supporters organized a campaign of civil disobedience with the aim of restoration of the deposed government.
In the wake of his departure, spontaneous protests erupted in the capital, organized by supporters of Gamsakhurdia, referred to as "Zviadists". Several large demonstrations were violently dispersed by the interim government, led by the trio of Tengiz Kitovani, Tengiz Sigua, and Jaba Ioseliani. Among them most notable were on 3 January and 7 January which left several people dead after being shot at by unidentified gunmen at two different areas of the city. In some cases, protestors were driven away with batons and water cannons.
After mass rallied held in Tbilisi on 29 and 30 January, Jaba Ioseliani returned from Samegrelo where he had been leading a military campaign against the forces loyal to Gamsakhurdia. In a TV interview, he vowed to restore order in the capital, threatening to "shoot dead every provocateur on the spot".

## Massacre

On February 2, thousands of demonstrators gathered at Station Square and began marching toward the government chancellery via Queen Tamar Avenue, led by a group of young activists. As they approached the circus building, they were confronted by buses, armored personnel carriers (APCs), and tanks. Armed individuals, equipped with automatic rifles, stood alongside these vehicles.
Eyewitnesses reported that when the shooting began, the crowd initially did not scatter, assuming the bullets were rubber. However, as bloodied protestors fell to the ground, it became evident that live ammunition was being used.
Footage of the February 2 protest and march was captured on video. The recordings depict crowds of demonstrators, dressed in warm winter clothing, marching toward Heroes' Square. Water cannons are seen being used against the protestors. Moments later, gunfire erupts. Initially, the crowd appears confused; some people are seen crying, while others hurl curses. Several injured individuals are visible on camera. Amid the chaos, shouts can be heard confirming casualties.
16-year-old Mamuka Terashvili carrying the national flag in front of the people was one of the first persons instantly killed. There were shootings also at two other places, near the Cinema building on Davit Agmashenebeli Avenue and on Marjanishvili Square, resulting in deaths, injuries and arrests. Military Commandant Gela Lanchava was allegedly in charge of the firing squads operating in the city.

## Aftermath

There was no investigation. The regime-contolled media scarcely mentioned this event, describing it as clashes. With no more rallies held in the city, the resistance focused on using forceful means, mostly in Samegrelo, where the locals overwhelmingly supported Gamsakhurdia and represented the core of his loyalists. Some of the actions, such as an armed attack on Ioseliani's car on 13 June 1992 or capture of the state TV station shortly afterwards were carried out in Tbilisi as well.
The civil war lasted until the winter of 1993.