Press Review, September 28-October 1, 1999

 

Political Cloning

According to available information, three George Kobakhidze are going to run parliamentary elections in the Saburtalo constituency, two Edward Surmanidze in Aspindza, and two Ghia Djaqeli in Samgori. Cloning has nothing to do with such a situation. It is a novelty designed by Georgian political parties against their rivals - they try to disappoint voters in such constituencies where rivalling parties have stronger candidates. The novelty is quite legal as according to the Constitution every citizen is entitled to run the elections, even though some of them may have the same first name and surname.

"Resonance" No. 265, September 28, pp. 1, 2

Salaridze’s First Great Act In The Music Hall

"We should save the native language, motherland and belief", David Salaridze, former ombudsman of Georgia, former chief of the police and former chairman of the taxation department, said at this September 27 meeting with voters in the City Music Hall. The list of his supporters who gathered in the Hall indicates that once opposition forces have joined under one banner. It seems that the instinct for self-preservation made them forget past history. Among others, there were Vakhtang Dzabiradze, former dissident, Nugzar Popkhadze, former secretary of the central committee of the Communist Party, Irakli Batiashvili, an active member of the Georgian national movement, Vakhtang Razmadze, former procurator general and a member of the Union for Democratic Revival (UDR).

"Resonance" No. 265, September 28, p. 3

"Akhali Taoba" No. 267, September 28, p. 2

"7 Dge" No. 114, September 29-30, p. 3

Aslan Broke Agreement With The Popular

Tensions seem emerging between the Popular Party and its allies in the Batumi bloc. At first, the party and the leadership of the alliance had agreed that they would avoid to compete in single constituencies. Some time later, however, the party found its candidates confronted with the alliance in several constituencies. Informal sources claim that the confrontation might be triggered by the party’s decision to include Nugzar Popkhadze, the former chairmen of Shevardnadze’s foundation, into its party election list. Mamuka Giorgadze, the chairman of the Popular Party, told journalists he was going to visit Batumi for talks with Aslan Abashidze on the issue: "I think that after the talks the initial variant will be restored as it matches common interests". For his part, Vakhtang Razmadze, deputy chairman of the UDR, claims that it was just the Popular Party which broke the agreement first.

"Resonance" No. 265, September 28, p. 3

"7 Dge" No. 114, 115; September 29-30, October 1-3; pp. 2, 5

"Droni" No. 111, September 30, p. 1

Procurators to Run Elections

Gocha Paitchadze, former deputy procurator general (dismissed about an year ago) is going to run the parliamentary elections in the party list of the Batumi bloc. Although his former colleges claim that he has a grudge against the government for his dismissal, he keeps saying: "I am a free man and can run elections where I want...". On the whole, 20 Georgian procurators, including Revaz Qipiani, deputy procurator general, are going to run the coming elections.

"Resonance" No. 265, September 28, p. 4

"Sakartvelos Respublika" No. 261, September 29, p. 1

Before The Elections Begin

The Central Election Commission has began examination of the party election lists. The process is expected to last till October 6. At present, 35 blocs and parties are registered in the CEC. According to Djumber Lominadze, the CEC chairman, all the lists will be examined thoroughly.

"Sakartvelos Respublika" No. 260, September 28, p. 1

An Observer Mission Visited Georgia

An OSCE observer mission led by Nikolay Volchanov visited Georgia. The mission (by October 31 it is expected to total about 200 observers) will monitor the October 31 parliamentary elections and judge its results.

"Sakartvelos Respublika" No. 260, September 28, p. 1

Didgori Tactics For The Parliamentary Elections

In an attempt to win more votes the Georgian political parties are creating quite strange blocs - the "Popular Party-Didgori" is one of them. If the population is more or less familiar with the Popular Party, the Didgori is quite an unknown organisation. According to Lia Andguladze, one of the leaders of the Didgori (the minister for education in times of Zviad Gamsakhurdia), the organisation associates a part of the "zviadists", including George Khoshtaria, the former foreign minister, and Nodar Tzuleiskiri, the former minister for culture. In her words, the current government is no longer afraid of the "zviadist" movement and, therefore, her party is going to use every chance to "say its word".

"Droni" No. 110, September 28, p. 1

Registration Denied To Four Parties

On September 27 the CEC denied registration to the Union of Christian and Muslim Democrats, the Party of the Georgian Citizens’ Consolidation, the Georgian National Popular Front, and the Party of the Georgian Rightists as all of them submitted incomplete party lists. The Democratic Party and the Party of Veterans withdrew from the pre-election campaign on their own. The CEC also rejected the request of the "Popular Party-Didgori" bloc which proposed Guram Absandze, the former finance minister, as a party candidate in the Zugdidi constituency. Absandze is currently under arrest in the preventive detention wards for high treason charges (he is accused of having organised the February 9, 1998, assassination attempt against Shevardnadze). The CEC said the problem was in the competence of a court.

"Droni" No. 110, September 28, p. 3

"Dilis Gazeti" No. 221, September 28, p. 3

The New Is Forgotten Old

Eduard Shevardnadze made a presentation of the election list of the ruling party, Citizens’ Union of Georgia, on September 29. The list, in his words, includes people from various strata and from various political parties. In comparison with the last elections, the list has been refreshed - there are 46 new candidates.

"Resonance" No. 266, September 29, p. 2

Communists Fled Margiani

Several hours before the deadline to submit the party election lists to the CEC expired, leaders of the Revived Communist Party of Georgia declared that their party withdrew from the election bloc "Revived Communists - National Patriots" and joined the bloc "Stalinists-Communists". "We are Communists and prefer to stand by Communists", Vazha Khachapuridze, first secretary of the party central committee, said. As to the National Patriots, their participation in the elections in now in question. According to the law service of the CEC, if one member of a two-party election bloc withdraws from the bloc, the other member cannot run elections on its own. Experts say the issue will be most likely brought before a court. As court hearings may take two or three weeks, the National Patriots, even if allowed to run the elections, will have no time to carry out pre-election campaign.

"Resonance" No. 266, 267; September 29, 30, pp. 1, 2, 4

"Meridiani 44" No. 112, September 29-October 1, p. 2

A New Alliance

The Greens Party, the Party for Defence of Constitutional Rights, and the Conservative Monarchist Party have created a political alliance. According to Ghia Gachechiladze, the leader of the Greens Party, this right-centre alliance will run the coming parliamentary elections using the party list of the Greens Party which totals 150 candidates.

"Sakartvelos Respublika" No. 261, September 29, p. 1

The CEC Will Sit Weekly

According to Resolution 94 (September 27) of the Central Election Commission, sittings of the CEC will take place every Wednesday on 2:00 p.m. from September 29 till October 31.

"Sakartvelos Respublika" No. 261, September 29, p. 2

A Scandal In The Batumi Regional Election Commission

The September 29 sitting of the CEC resolved to abolish the September 23 resolution of the Batumi regional election commission which appointed 315 members of district election commissions. The CEC claims that the resolution was passed in the absence of quorum. So all the 315 members have to be re-appointed, while Roman Chkhaidze, the chairman of the regional commission, may be dismissed. The CEC created also an ad hoc investigation commission to examine the situation in Batumi constituency.

"Resonance" No. 267, September 30, p. 2

"Akhali Taoba" No. 270, October 1, pp. 2, 6

A Rebellion In The Tzalka Election Commission

Confrontation emerged between Alexi Samolianidi, the chairman of the Tzalka district election commission, and some other members of the commission - representatives of the Socialist Party and the Union of Georgian Traditionalists (UGT) - who accuse him of having improperly registered majoritarian candidates’ documents. The problem was discussed at the September 29 sitting of the CEC which resolved to create an ad hoc investigation commission to examine the situation in Tzalka.

"Resonance" No. 267, September 30, p. 4

"Akhali Taoba" No. 270, October 1, p. 2

 

A Pre-Election War Began In Gori

Vakhtang Rcheulishvili, the chairman of the Socialist Party, attempted to launch a meeting with voters at the central square of Gori on September 28 but in vain as the youth organisation of the Citizens’ Union of Georgia organised a music concert just at the same time and right at the same place. Angered Rcheulishvili was forced to hold the meeting in another place (near Joseph Stalin’s monument). He declared that the president should be placed into "the trash-bin of history". According to Givi Gagnidze, the Gori district gamgebeli (head of local administration), Rcheulishvili’s action had not been sanctioned by the city hall.

"Dilis Gazeti" No. 223, September 30, p. 7

Pre-Election Fevers In Adjaria

On September 27 activists of the Citizens’ Union of Georgia (CUG) placed about 600 election posters on walls in Kobuleti but the same night the police removed them all. "We follow an order", the policemen told journalists.

"Dilis Gazeti" No. 223, September 30, p. 9

The Citizens Union Removing Posters

According to Tengiz Djgushia, deputy chairman of the Socialist Party, the authorities attempted to remove election posters of the Batumi bloc (the Socialist Party is one of its members) from the walls of the Post Office of Zugdidi. In his words, it was Zurab Khuntua, deputy state commissioner in the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region and chairman of the CUG regional office, who ordered to remove the posters. For his part, Khuntua denied the accusation, though having clarified that the Zugdidi gamgeoba (local administration) issued a special resolution banning to place posters on several buildings of the city, including the Post Office.

"Alia" No. 154, September 30-October 1, p. 2

Father Rostom Disobeys The Patriarch

Despite a special statement of the Cathalicos Patriarch of Georgia Ilia II suggesting that the clergy should abstain from political activities, Father Rostom of the Sameba (Trinity) Church of Tbilisi is going to run parliamentary elections in the list of the election bloc "XXI Century - Georgian Nationalism". "I am not a slave, I am a free man..", he says.

"Akhali Taoba" No. 269, September 30, p. 3

No Party Will Win A Majority

The analysis of the Georgian political life suggests that if no party wins a majority of seats in the parliament, it will be the most favourable outcome of the elections for Eduard Shevardnadze, the newspaper argues. If, say, the opposition led by the Batumi alliance a gains a majority, the situation in Georgia may resemble that in Russia - a permanent confrontation between the president and the parliament. On the other hand, if the current ruling party, Citizens’ Union of Georgia, retains its majority, it may cause serious confrontation between the authorities and the opposition and even lead to a civil war at worst (like in 1991-92). So if neither the CUG nor the Batumi bloc gains a majority, the president will be able to balance the parliament much more easily, provided there will be a number of opposition parties loyal to Shevardnadze, such as the National Democratic Party, the Labour Party and the Industry to Rescue Georgia.

"Akhali Taoba" No. 269, September 30, p. 3

Zviadists Boycott Elections

At their September 29 press-conference three "zviaidist" political organisations - All Georgian Zviad the Liberator’s Party (chaired by Leila Tsomaia), Free Georgia - Future Generation (Koba Bukia) and Rights of the Georgian Nation (Zaza Davitaia) - declared that they would boycott the parliamentary elections since any resolutions of the illegitimate government (meaning the current government), including appointment of elections, must be considered illegal. They parties said they remained loyal to the first president Zviad Gamsakhurdia and adhered to his ideas.

"Akhali Taoba" No. 269, September 30, p. 9

Kutaisi Getting Ready For Elections

Kutaisi, the second largest city of the country, is getting ready for elections - there are 20 majoritarian candidates. The following of them have the most chances for success: Kote Barkaia, the former MP for Kutaisi; Rezo Dvalishvili, a well-known businessman (beer and soft drinks); Badri Melkadze, former mayor of the city; Nestan Kirtadze and oil businessman Bondo Shalikian (Batumi bloc).

"Alia" No. 154, September 30-October 1, p. 4

Two Georgian Organisations Will Monitor The Elections

Fifteen Georgian organisations appealed to the CEC for the observer status at the coming parliamentary elections. Only two of them - International Organisation for Fair Elections and Democracy, and the Centre of Strategic Studies and Development - have been entitled to monitor the elections.

"Sakartvelos Respublika" No. 262, September 30, p. 4

Pre-Election Campaign Beginning In Vake

The Vake district, one of the most prestigious districts of Tbilisi, seems going to become an area of fervent pre-election campaign. Fifteen candidates will run elections in the Vake constituency, including Michael Saakashvili, the leader of the parliamentary faction of the Citizens’ Union of Georgia, David Salaridze, the former ombudsman, and George Gachechiladze, the speaker of the Greens Party.

"Resonance" No. 268, October 1, p. 5

Nana Devdariani Found Her Press Club Closed

To organise meetings between mass media and Georgian politicians, businessmen or NGOs, Nana Devdariani, a journalist, founded a press-club three years ago with financial support of Soros foundation. It has been successfully functioning ever since in the building of the club-saloon "Retro" in Tbilisi. However, on September 30 Ms Devdariani attempted to organise a meeting between journalists and Djumber Patiashvili, former first secretary of the Communist Party of Georgia, but in vain. Managers of the "Retro" denied her access to the club. She believes that the incident was caused by pressure of the CUG and claims that the meeting will be carried out anyway.

"Dilis Gazeti" No. 224, October 1, p. 4

"Akhali Taoba" No. 270, October 1, pp. 3, 4

Which Of Them Needs Another Most?

Revaz Qipiani, deputy procurator general, held a meeting with voters in the town of Tqibuli. He is going to run elections as a majoritarian candidate in the Tqibuli constituency. His pre-election program is in fact under way - the price for the Tqibuli-Tbilisi bus ticket has reduced from 5 to 3 GEL (beginning on October 1); about 3,500 GEL worth of clothes, foods and fuel will be soon distributed among locals in kind of humanitarian aid, etc. His candidacy seems welcomed by the city - Tqibuli-dwellers believe that the parliament needs the "encyclopaedia of jurisprudence" more than the latter needs the parliament.

"Dilis Gazeti" No. 224, October 1, p. 4

Aldamov Will Not Sit In The Parliament

Khizri Aldamov, Chechnya’s official representative in Georgia, is going to run parliamentary elections in the list of the Christian-Democratic Party. However, even if the party clears the seven-percent barrier of votes, he is going to cede his seat to another party candidate. "Parliament has never been my goal", he says considering his name in the party election list a sign of great respect on the part of CDP.

"Akhali Taoba" No. 270, October 1, pp. 3, 4

Manana Archvadze Captured

Manana Archvadze-Gamsakhurdia, the former president’s widow and the leader of the Round Table - Free Georgia, claims that she was captured by the police on September 27 and conveyed out of the city. She was released only late in the evening. Earlier, she had brought an action against Tengiz Kikacheisvhili, the leader of the "Round Table - Free Georgia" for misappropriation of the party name (both organisations claim the same name as both consider themselves legitimate successors of Zviad Gamsakhurdia). In her words, Kikacheishvili is a relative of Soso Alavidze, the city police chief.

"Dilis Gazeti" No. 222, September 29, p. 2

Zugdidi Awaiting Elections

Fifteen majoritarian candidates will run parliamentary elections in the Zugdidi constituency. The following of them seem most likely to win: Otar Patsatsia, the former prime-minister of Georgia (Citizens Union of Georgia); Tengiz Djgushia of the Socialist Party; Guram Gunava (independent candidate), former chairman of the Samegrelo office of the Audit Chamber; Revaz Bulia of the Communist Party. "Zviadist" parties are rather week in Zugdidi, once the stronghold of Zviadist movement. The Round Table - Free Georgia led by Tengiz Kikacheishvili has no representatives there at all. There are only some supporters of Manana Archvadze-Gamsakhurdia, the former president’s widow, and the "zviadist" forces which are associated in the Batumi alliance. Strange as it is, the National Democratic Party, though it is quite popular in the Samegrelo region, has no candidates in this constituency. The party explains the fact by the lack of finance - the pre-election campaign in Zugdidi involves such strong financial forces that it is no use competing with them, they say.

"7 Dge" No. 115, October 1-3, p. 5