Eduard Shevardnadze Quotes
I think my resignation was the only way to avoid bloodshed.
Shevardnadze, Eduard. Interview by Julius Strauss. The Daily Telegraph, Telegraph Media Group, 25 Nov. 2003.
The Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood had won the first democratic election, but they proceeded to use their majority to deny rights to others. Massive demonstrations against the government, with the Egyptian military support deposed the Brotherhood President and government. The Brotherhood then took to the streets, demonstrating against the ousting of their elected government. After more than a week of constant demonstrations and the blockage of many streets, the new military appointed government authorized the police to clear the streets. Some of the Brotherhood were armed and killed over 40 police and several hundred demonstrators were also killed with each side blaming the other for “starting” the violence. The vice president was a strong opponent of the Muslim Brotherhood and supported and called for the ousting of their undemocratic, albeit elected, government. However he also supported their right to protest in the streets and condemned the use of force.
Shortly after, he backed off the notion of having a bloodbath removing protesting students.
Eduard Ambrosiyevich Shevardnadze was a Georgian politician and diplomat. He served as First Secretary of the Georgian Communist Party (GPC), the de facto leader of Soviet Georgia from 1972 to 1985 and as Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Soviet Union from 1985 to 1991. Shevardnadze was responsible for many key decisions in Soviet foreign policy during the Gorbachev Era including reunification of Germany. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, he was President of Georgia (or in equivalent posts) from 1992 to 2003. He was forced to retire in 2003 as a consequence of the bloodless Rose Revolution.
