Georgian opposition vows "permanent protests"

By Nina Akhmeteli: 1/30/08

A pledge by a 12-party opposition coalition to hold "permanent protests" if major reforms are not implemented suggests that the country's recent political distemper is lingering on.

The parties have given parliament 17 days to meet their demands, outlined in a 17-point manifesto published on January 29, or face a "second wave of protests" that they have pledged to start in front of parliament on February 15.

Aside from the nine opposition parties backing former presidential candidate Levan Gachechiladze, candidate Davit Gamkrelidze's New Rights Party, the Industrialists parliamentary faction and former candidate Giorgi Maisashvili's Party of the Future also support the demands.

"All the opposition presidential candidates worked on the document ... about the necessary changes that are today Georgian society's demand number one: setting up once and for all in Georgia a free judiciary, elections and media," Gachechiladze told a January 30 press conference in Tbilisi.

Former presidential candidate Shalva Natelashvili, leader of the Labor Party, has been hospitalized following a heart attack and did not sign the manifesto. Fellow candidate Irina Sarishvili, widely seen as pro-Russia, was not included in opposition consultations.

A boycott of Georgia's upcoming parliamentary elections – expected sometime in May – has also been pledged. (The date of the vote is another point for contention: the coalition wants April, before the expiration of the current parliament's term). The manifesto's signatories stated that they will only take part in the vote if the government and opposition are given equal representation on all election commissions and have an equal say in the appointment of the chairperson of the Central Election Commission. Gachechiladze's supporters have called for a criminal prosecution against the current chairman, Levan Tarkhnishvili, claiming that he facilitated falsification of the vote. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

Terming Mikheil Saakashvili a "self-proclaimed president," the opposition group has also called for a recount of the January 5 presidential vote in some districts that were flagged by international observers. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

Changes at the Georgian Public Broadcasting Company – a board of trustees appointed with equal representation between opposition parties and the government – remains a key goal. Similar demands have also been made for the Georgian National Communications Commission, which oversees broadcast licenses. Open access to court sessions for photographers and television cameras is an additional aim.

Along with media freedom, the manifesto stressed political rights, calling for the release of all prisoners allegedly arrested for their political beliefs, and for an investigation into the events of November 7. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. The government has denied that any political prisoners exist in Georgia.

The document, addressed to Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze, international organizations and "world governments," declares Saakashvili's January election victory to be invalid. The coalition has categorically refused to recognize Saakashvili as president, though it has expressed willingness to hold additional discussions with Burjanadze.

In an apparent move to underline his own relevance to any such dialogue, President Saakashvili on January 30 told a group of regional journalists that while Georgia needs "a strong president who would take immediate decisions," a parliament with expanded powers is needed as well. He did not elaborate on the proposed new functions.

As of late on January 30, the opposition coalition had reportedly not received any concrete response from the ruling United National Movement Party, though National Movement parliamentarian Irina Kurdadze told Rustavi-2 television that Burjanadze is willing to hold talks with the opposition.

Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee Chairperson Kote Gabashvili, another member of the National Movement, however, thinks that the opposition has not yet demonstrated a commitment to holding a constructive dialogue.

"A discussion with the opposition is in our interests, but it is very hard to work and to have consultations with the opposition in such a situation," Gabashvili told EurasiaNet. "We have today a very eclectic and radical union of opposition forces."

Meanwhile, one senior leader of the opposition coalition said that Saakashvili's own party has sent conflicting messages to the opposition.

"People who won't be on the [party] list [for the parliamentary elections] are refusing to have a dialogue, but those from the ruling party who are going to take part in the election are much more careful in their statements," said Republican Party parliamentarian Levan Berdzenishvili.

Berdzenishvili claims that the opposition's 17 points largely reflect demands also recently made by the Council of Europe. A January 25 resolution passed by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe called on Georgia to carry out a "vigorous investigation of all allegations of intimidation, harassment and violation of electoral law and bring to justice all perpetrators of electoral fraud."

But one prominent academic argues that the opposition's statements are merely intended to build momentum for a boycott of the upcoming parliamentary vote.

"There are two scenarios for developments in Georgia," said Gigi Tevzadze, rector of Tbilisi's Ilia Chavchavadze University, and a former education ministry advisor. "One is holding the parliamentary elections and the other is changing power by means of permanent protests. I think the radical opposition is considering the second scenario behind the scenes." [Editor's Note: Gigi Tevzadze is a former employee of the Open Society Georgia Foundation. EurasiaNet.org is run under the auspices of the Open Society Institute in New York].

Opposition-friendly expert Gia Khukhashvili, however, argues that the onus for dialogue lies with the government, which, he says, has as not yet taken constructive steps aimed at implementing real changes in Georgia's power structures.

Government supporters have indicated that posts were offered to opposition members, but were rejected.

The opposition has demanded that a new cabinet be formed after parliamentary elections; the constitution provides for this only after a presidential vote.

The ongoing presence of Minister of Interior Affairs Vano Merabishvili is a major source of opposition ire. Aside from Merabishvili's resignation, they demand that an investigative parliamentary commission and regional bureaus monitor the performance of law enforcement agencies.

Opposition leaders argue that the lack change would make street protests the only solution to the ongoing political stalemate. PACE and other international bodies do not agree with this outlook. In its resolution this week, the Council of Europe's parliamentary assembly called for alleged election violations to be resolved via "legal avenues" and "not through street demonstrations."

Editor's Note: Nina Akhmeteli is a freelance reporter based in Tbilisi.

Posted January 30, 2008 © Eurasianet