Koba Davitashvili facts for kids

Koba Davitashvili (Georgian: კობა დავითაშვილი) was an important Georgian politician. He was born on July 31, 1971, and passed away on December 2, 2020. Davitashvili was known for being a member of the Georgian opposition. He also served in the Tbilisi City Assembly and led the People's Party.

Early Life and Education

Koba Davitashvili was born in the city of Tbilisi on July 31, 1971. After finishing school, he went to Tbilisi State University. He studied International law, which is about rules and agreements between different countries.

In 1993, Davitashvili served in the War in Abkhazia. He was in charge of an artillery unit during this time. Later, in the 1990s, he worked in several government jobs. He also practiced law, using his legal knowledge to help people. From 1998 to 1999, he was a member of the Tbilisi City Assembly. There, he led the Department of Human Rights, working to protect people's basic freedoms. Koba Davitashvili was married and had five children.

Starting a Political Journey

Koba Davitashvili became a key figure in the United National Movement. This was a new political group. He worked alongside Mikheil Saakashvili and actively spoke out against the president at that time, Eduard Shevardnadze.

In 2003, there were big demonstrations in Georgia, sometimes called the Rose Revolution. Davitashvili did not take a major part in these events. This was because he had some disagreements with Saakashvili. However, he remained a member of Saakashvili's party. He stayed with the party until the end of the 2004 Adjara crisis. During this time, he was injured by supporters of Aslan Abashidze.

Moving to the Opposition

Koba Davitashvili was elected as a member of the Parliament of Georgia. Soon after the elections, he left the United National Movement. He joined the Conservative Party of Georgia. After this, he became a strong voice in the opposition. This meant he actively disagreed with President Saakashvili's government.

Davitashvili later left his seat in the Parliament of Georgia. He wanted to take part in local elections instead. His goal was to join the Tbilisi City Assembly again. After these elections, some video footage was released. Davitashvili said this footage was fake and made by the government. Following this event, he left the Conservative Party. He then started his own political group, which he called the People's Party.

Activism and Challenges

In 2007, there were large demonstrations in Tbilisi. These protests were stopped by riot police. Davitashvili was injured during these events. He was then taken to the Gori Military Hospital. Because he disappeared and his family could not visit him, some people worried he had been killed. However, the next day, he held a press conference. He publicly accused the government of targeting him. This incident was never officially investigated.

Koba Davitashvili remained an active member of the Georgian opposition. He often encouraged different opposition parties to work together. His goal was to unite them against the government of President Saakashvili.