Political Crisis in Georgia Prompts Call for Early Elections
By Daniel Hollingsworth
November 13, 2007 | Printer Friendly

BBC News reports that Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili has announced that Presidential elections scheduled for late 2008 will now be held in January, following a week of anti-government protests in the capital city of Tbilisi.  This decision comes after a flurry of political activity, which included the declaration of a state of emergency in Georgia, a police crackdown on protesters, and accusations that Russia was attempting to foment the overthrow of the pro-Western government in Tbilisi.  The BBC report writes that “[Saakashvili] described the early elections as a vote of confidence in his presidency. He said he wanted to know he had the full support of the Georgian people in order ‘to cope with any external threat, to manage any pressure and to do away with an attempt to annex Georgia's territory.’”

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) writes that protests in Tbilisi began on Friday, November 2, when “Tens of thousands of Georgians are estimated to have attended [a] rally, organized by the National Council umbrella group, which counts democratic backsliding among its complaints about the country's leader.”  This protest focused on the demand that “parliamentary elections be restored to the spring of 2008 -- responding to a nearly year-old decision by the government to delay the ballot until autumn 2008, when presidential elections are to be held.”  The Presidential elections now scheduled for January will coincide with a referendum on whether to hold parliamentary elections sometime in the spring.

The government has reacted to these protests with force and with severe restrictions on the Georgian media.  The International Herald Tribune writes that “Riot police with batons used tear gas and a water cannon on Wednesday [November 6] to clear thousands of demonstrators from the streets of Tbilisi.”  Voice of America also reports that independent media have been forced off the air in Georgia, with one report of troops holding station employees at gunpoint while equipment was destroyed at Imedi, Georgia’s most popular television station.  Saakashvili’s declaration of a state of emergency formally bans all independent media and public gatherings, and Saakashvili has also blamed Russia for attempting to undermine stability in Georgia.  Reuters reports that “Saakashvili claimed Russia had been manipulating the opposition to try to stir unrest. Moscow denied any involvement, saying Saakashvili was seeking to deflect attention away from his own failings.”

U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Matthew Bryza met with top Georgian officials on Tuesday, November 13 to urge an end to the state of emergency.  Reuters reports that Bryza was told by speaker for the Georgian Parliament Nino Burjanadze that the state of emergency would be lifted soon, likely on Friday, November 16.  The United States has been joined by the European Union and NATO in calling for an end to emergency rule in the country.

References:

BBC News: Georgia to hold early elections

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty: Georgia Sees Largest Protest Rally Since Rose Revolution

International Herald Tribune: Georgia protests erupt in violence as police try to clear demonstrators

Voice of America: Georgia’s Media Shutdown has Significant Impact

Reuters: U.S. says Georgia to lift emergency rule in 3 days