Georgia: Opposition Leaders State Their Case in Washington

Striving to enlist international support in its struggle against President Mikheil Saakashvili's administration, the newly united Georgian opposition is sending delegations to key western capitals, in particular Washington. Opposition leaders are advocating for policy adjustments toward Georgia aimed at making the government more accountable for the democratization process.

The international delegations are part of a strategy to build on the rapid momentum achieved since the 10-party opposition coalition, the National Council of Unified Public Movement, was formed just over a month ago. [See related EurasiaNet story].

The coalition formed after former Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili made sensational allegations of murder and corruption against Saakashvili, and was arrested two days later. Two weeks after that, he was released and recanted his accusations. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

The entire episode has raised concerns about Georgia's democratization process and has made policymakers in Washington – by far Saakashvili's strongest international supporters – more receptive to the opposition's message, according to Tinatin Khidasheli, a member of the Republican Party who organized the Washington trip this week.

"The developments in Georgia really made this visit easier, compared to last time when I had a hard time convincing the people to see us," she said in an interview with EurasiaNet. "I think 15,000 people on the street in one evening, that made a big difference. It made people not just in Georgia but in Washington as well, doubt that Saakashvili is able to manage this crisis properly."

The delegation – consisting only of members of the Republican Party, but representing the entire 10-party council – met on October 29 with representatives of several US officials at the State Department. The group also met with members of Congress, the White House National Security Council and Washington think tanks, Khidasheli said.

The opposition is trying to convince US policymakers to make stricter demands on Georgia in exchange for support for Georgia's bid for NATO membership. Georgia is hoping to reach the next level of NATO membership, a Membership Action Plan, at the alliance's April summit in Bucharest. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

"Unfortunately, the only leverage that still exists on my government is Washington. No one else has any leverage on them. And we understand that MAP is something that can be sold with a very high price to the Georgian government," she said. "Our message is, at the Bucharest summit make sure something good happens for Georgia, but it happens only if you use your leverage on the Georgian government."

The opposition has published a manifesto arguing for several changes to Georgia's political system, including early elections next spring and more opposition representation on the election commission. It also accuses Saakashvili of "usurping power."

It's not certain to what extent Washington policymakers are listening to the opposition. Government officials interviewed said that the events of the last month do not suggest that Georgia's democratic development is in danger.

"I would call it a bump in the road. You're always going to have, in a healthy democracy, scandals of some sort," said one US government official, speaking on condition of anonymity. "How they respond to it is up to them, and Georgia is a young country