Melkadze Left The National Democratic Party

MP Otar Melkadze, a member of the Main Committee of the National Democratic Party, has given up his party membership. In his words, the election party list of the bloc National Democratic Alliance - Third Way includes several unacceptable for him persons. He abstained, however, from specifying particular names. Melkadze predicts that the future parliament will be dominated by two forces - Citizens’ Union of Georgia and the Revival of Georgia. Commenting on Melkadze’s withdrawal, Irakli Kadagishvili, one of the leaders of the National Democratic Party, said the fact would hardly affect the NDP.

"Resonance" No. 288, 290; October 20, 22; pp. 1, 3

"Akhali Taoba" No. 289, October 20, p. 2

60 Thousand GEL To Decide The Fate Of A Majoritarian Candidate

The election legislation limits the pre-election fund of a majoritarian or a party candidate to 5,000 GEL (about $2,630). Independent experts, however, estimate that real expenses of the pre-election campaign may reach 40-60 thousand GEL (about $25-30 thousand) for each candidate. According to the law, all the pre-election expenditures are subject to the examination of the State Audit Chamber but in reality, as the experience of the last local elections showed, this mechanism does not work. Although some political organisations did not submit their financial reports, none of them was held responsible for this breach so far.

"Resonance" No. 288, October 20, p. 3

Natadze Accuses The Police

 

According to Nodar Natadze, the leader of the Popular Front, Nema Elizbarashvili, one of the PF candidates, was arrested by the police when distributing Natadze’s election booklets in the Mtatzminda district of Tbilisi. The police told him that he had no rights for pre-election propaganda and detained him for several hours. Natadze also accused the police of persecuting another PF candidate, Papuna Menabdishvili (Kaspi constituency). His father’s tomb was defiled some time ago by the police, Natadze claims.

"Resonance" No. 288, October 20, p. 3

Pre-Election Fisticuffs

Nana Devdariani, a majoritarian candidate (Socialist Party) of the Mtatzminda district constituency, launched a special press-conference on October 19, claiming that six members of her propagandist group were severely beaten by supporters of another candidate of this constituency, Archil Gogelia (Citizens’ Union of Georgia). The regime which applied such methods was doomed to fail, she said.

"7 Dge" No. 123, October 20-21, p. 3

The Press Centre Denies

The press centre of the Supreme Council of Adjaria denied reports of some mass media which had claimed that Aslan Abashidze, the Adjarian leader, specified $60 mln as the election fund of the Revival of Georgia. Aslan Abashidze had never made such statements, while this figure did not correspond with the reality, the press centre said. For his part, Panteleimon Giorgadze, the leader of the bloc "United Communist Party of Georgia and Worker Soviets", claims that the Revival has already spent $31.5 mln on its pre-election campaign. "If our bloc had so much money, we would come to power without any elections", he said.

"Dilis Gazeti" No. 240, October 20, p. 2

"Droni" No. 123, October 21, p. 2

The Revival Encountered The Police

Valerian Dzotzeria, a majoritarian candidate of the election bloc Revival of Georgia in the Zugdidi constituency and the head of the regional election staff of the bloc in Samegrelo, and two his supporters were arrested in Zugdidi on October 19, according to official version, for abuse of the police and hooliganism. The CEC resolved to lift his parliamentary immunity by 10 votes to 6. On the other hand, the press centre of the Revival claimed that all the three were arrested and severely beaten by the police when attempting to get some necessary information in the regional police department. The police also detained a van of the Revival which was carrying out pre-election propaganda with the use of loud-speakers. Despite the incident, leaders of the bloc - Djumber Patiashvili (former first secretary of the Communist Party of Georgia), Vakhtang Botchorishvili, Mukhran Matchavariani and Vakhtang Gvaramia - held a pre-election tour in the Samegrelo region.

"Dilis Gazeti" No. 240, October 20, p. 2

"Resonance" No. 289, 290; October 21, 22; pp. 3, 4

Are The Police Cleared For Secret Documents?

According to the election legislation, list of supporters of majoritarian candidates are secret documents and only election commissions and courts have access to this information. It seems, however, that this requirement has been violated in Kobuleti (Adjaria). Local police are reportedly persecuting supporters of Gulnara Basilidze, a majoritarian candidate of the CUG in the Kobuleti constituency. Besides, the chair of the Tsikhisdziri election commission, Marina Bezhanidze, and her family are also facing the pressure of the Adjarian authorities.

"Akhali Taoba" No. 289, October 20, p. 3

The Press Centre Of The Revival Protests

The press centre of the election bloc Revival of Georgia made a protest statement against "unprecedented" violation of the election legislation during the pre-election campaign on the part of the ruling party. The statement pointed to numerous cases of persecution of the bloc’s members by the authorities, including illegal arrests. The press centre emphasised that such anti-Revival measures increased remarkably right after Eduard Shevardnadze’s statement claiming the opposition’s possible future victory to be a coup. All this meant that the president and his team were going to deprive the people of free choice and remain in power by every means, the press centre concluded.

"Akhali Taoba" No. 289, October 20, p. 4

Aggressive, Dark And Very Dangerous

A pre-election forum of the Citizens’ Union of Georgia (CUG) took place in the Sport Palace of Tbilisi on October 20. The CUG, in the chairman of the parliament Zurab Zhvania’s words, has three significant advantages over its opponents: 1. experience; 2. organisation; 3. efficient economic program. The CUG’s main advantage, however, is its leader, Eduard Shevardnadze. On the other hand, Vazha Lortkipanidze, the state minister, emphasised past failures of the party - "We have failed to restore the territorial integrity of Georgia, to pay all the salaries and pensions, to solve the problem of unemployment". The CUG, in his words, acknowledges its mistakes and is able to correct all of them. According to Michael Saakashvili, the leader of the parliamentary group of the Citizens’ Union of Georgia, Georgia has to make a fundamental choice - either Shevardnadze, "a guardian of freedom", or one of the most aggressive, dark and dangerous forces in the history of Georgia.

"Resonance" No. 289, October 21, pp. 2, 5

"Droni" No. 123, October 21, p. 3

"Akhali Taoba" No. 290, October 21, p. 2

Let Popular Party-Didgori Tackle Corruption

The election bloc "Popular Party - Didgori" made a presentation of its election program. According to Mamuka Giorgadze, the leader of the Popular Party, the bloc is well capable of building a Georgian nation-state. The reputation of the party, in his words, has been never tainted and, therefore, they are the very men to fight corruption, carry out economic reforms, solve social problems and guarantee law and order in the country. These goals, in his opinion, are not very hard to achieve since "where there’s a political will there’s a way".

"Resonance" No. 289, October 21, p. 2

"Akhali Taoba" No. 290, October 21, p. 2

Which Party Will You Vote For On October 31?

The sociological group of the semi-official newspaper "Sakartvelos Respublika" carried out a telephone opinion poll in Tbilisi - 2,449 respondents were asked "Which party or election bloc will you vote for on October 31?". The results look as follows:

1. Citizens’ Union of Georgia - 36.26%

2. Industry to Rescue Georgia - 14.28%

3. Revival of Georgia - 12.21%

4. National Democratic Alliance - Third Way - 8.25%

5. Labour Party - 6.4%

6. Popular Party - Didgori - 5.34%

7. United Communist Party - 1.46%

8. Veterans’ Union - 1.02%

9. Greens Party - 0.94%

10. Round Table - Free Georgia - 0.8%

5.9% of the respondents have not decided yet which party to vote for

2.2% of the respondents are not going to participate in the elections

1.96% of the respondents had no answer

The Sociological Studies Centre of the State Chancellery has analysed the dynamic of the voters’ attitude towards political parties for the last four months. The analysis results look as follows:

"Sakartvelos Respublika" No. 285, October 21, pp. 1, 4

Think Carefully And Then Vote

Ramiz Akhmedov, the first secretary of the central committee of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan, visited Georgia to support the United Communist Party (UCP) of Georgia. He attended the UCP chairman Panteleimon Giorgadze’s pre-election meetings with voters of the Gardabani district (populated mostly by ethnic Azeri). In Giorgadze’s words, the ruling party’s wrong policy may trigger a civil war in the country. Georgia lost one third of its territory, two million citizens emigrated from the country and the process was going on, he said. Think carefully before deciding which party to vote for, he called upon the voters.

"Akhali Taoba" No. 290, October 21, p. 2

The World Sensation - Aslan Abashidze May Visit Tbilisi

 

According to Hamlet Tchipashvili, deputy representative of Adjaria in Tbilisi, Aslan Abashidze is going to chair a congress of the election bloc Revival of Georgia which is expected soon in Tbilisi (it is noteworthy that Abashidze has not left Batumi for the last eight years claiming the danger of assassination). However, the bloc has great difficulty renting space for the congress as all suitable halls appeared already rented. "If necessary, we will hold our congress under open sky", Tchipashvili said.

"Akhali Taoba" No. 290, October 21, p. 2

"Droni" No. 123, October 21, p. 3

The Police Invented A New Method

Leaders of the so-called "anti-election bloc" (three "zviaidist" political organisations), Leila Tsomaia (All Georgian Zviad the Liberator’s Party), Koba Bukia (Free Georgia - Future Generation) and Zaza Davitaia (Rights of the Georgian Nation) launched a press-conference on October 20, commenting on the October 18 incident - when attempting to launch a protest action in the central avenue of Tbilisi, all the three were detained by the police. However, in their words, they were conveyed not to the police station but to a remote forest far from the city and left alone there - it was a new police method applied against protest rallies, they said. The bloc is determined to continue protest actions until its demand for broadcasting time at the 1st Channel of the State TV is satisfied.

"Akhali Taoba" No. 290, October 21, p. 4

Who Has Burnt The Revival’s Only Election Placard?

According to Vakhtang Razmadze, a majoritarian candidate of the Revival of Georgia in the Tqibuli constituency, local entrepreneurs and heads of the city organisations have been warned by law enforcement authorities that they may be dismissed, unless they vote for the CUG in the coming elections. Meanwhile, in his words, Tqibuli population does not believe in the CUG any longer. Some days ago the only election placard of the Revival in the city was burnt down. It was the police who did it, Razmadze suspects. The Tqibuli police chief, David Tsirekidze, denied this accusation.

"Alia" No. 166, October 21-22, p. 3

Victims Of The Pre-Election Campaign - Broken Windscreens And Punctured Tyres

According to Hamlet Tchipashvili, several vans of the Revival of Georgia were seriously damaged by unknown people, when entering Tbilisi for pre-election propaganda on October 21. The attackers armed with light weapons broke windscreens and punctured tyres. Although the incident took place a hundred metres from a check-point of the traffic police, the attackers managed to hide. Tchipashvili claims that the vans will take part in the pre-election campaign anyway.

"Resonance" No. 290, October 22, p. 2

"7 Dge" No. 124, October 22-24, p. 2

"Akhali Taoba" No. 291, October 22, pp. 3, 4

Eggs - The Strongest Pre-Election Weapon

Djumber Patiashvili and Djemal Gogitidze, leaders of the Revival of Georgia, held pre-election meetings with voters in Kutaisi and Terdjola. While in the former the meeting went off without incidents, in Terdjola their car was bombed by eggs. Although such incidents take place regularly, the bloc will continue its pre-election campaign, Patiashvili said.

"Resonance" No. 290, October 22, p. 3

Elections And Observers

The CEC denied observer status to the youth section of the National Democratic Party since the regulations of this organisation does not provide for election monitoring. At the same time, according to the CEC, a 9-strong observer mission of the Council of Europe led by Terry Davis, the head of the British national delegation in the CE Parliamentary Assembly, will monitor the October 31 elections in Georgia. To date, the CEC has already registered 5 international observer missions: European Union - 18 observers, OSCE - 160 observers, OSCE Bureau of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights - 24 observers, National Democratic Institute (USA) - 8 observers, and International Foundation of Election Systems.

"Resonance" No. 290, October 22, p. 3

"7 Dge" No. 124, October 22-24, p. 1

One More Conflict Between Tbilisi And Batumi

Referring to the report of the international audit company "Arthur Andersen", Vano Chkhartishvili, deputy state minister, claims that Adjaria owes 25.5 mln GEL (about $13.5) to the central budget. The sum is made up of tax revenues, customs duties and money raised from privatisation. Instead of paying this money to the state budget, the Adjarian leadership used it improperly, he said. As a result, the government fails to pay salaries and pensions in time. In his words, it is a deliberate anti-government action. Besides, a part of the money might have been spent on the pre-election campaign of the Revival of Georgia. For his part, Djumber Patiashvili, claimed the sum to be greatly exaggerated, while the use of this money in the pre-election campaign, in his words, can be ruled out completely.

"Resonance" No. 290, October 22, p. 4

"Meridiani 44" No. 122, October 22-25, p. 3

"Akhali Taoba" No. 291, October 22, p. 4

 

Fair Elections Guaranteed

To avoid infringement of the election procedure, for the first time in Georgia’s modern history special cards with holograms will be attached to ballot-papers in the coming parliamentary elections. Each constituency will have its own card with original identification number. The cards were printed by the company "De la Rue" and cost the government about 300 thousand GEL (about $160 thousand). According to the CEC, there are 2,900,000 voters in the country, while the total number of the cards amounts to 6 mln altogether because the elections will be carried out in two systems - proportional and majoritarian, i.e. voters will have to fill two types of ballot-papers. Besides, the second round of elections may be required in some constituencies.

"7 Dge" No. 124, October 22-24, p. 3

Corruption - The Main Target Of National Democrats

Beso Djugheli and Ivliane Khaindrava, leaders of the National Democratic Alliance - Third Way, held a pre-election meeting with voters of the Gldani district constituency, on October 21. Georgia plunged into corruption, Djugheli said claiming that about $700 mln out of $2 billions of foreign credits were actually embezzled. On the other hand, in his words, the country’s GDP was the lowest in the world. However, the situation, in his opinion, may be improved rather rapidly. The bloc has worked out an alternative tax code which provides for tax reductions. In Djugheli’s opinion, it may help cope with corruption. For Khaindrava, the current staff policy obviously needs fundamental reforming. "I don’t believe that there are not at least 200-300 honest men in the country to replace corrupted officials", he said.

"Akhali Taoba" No. 291, October 22, p. 3