Opposition Political Leaders in Georgia Unite to Combat "Criminal-Political System"
Georgian opposition party leaders and non-governmental organization representatives are uniting in the face of an expanding "criminal-political system." Their action is spurred by concern that Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze, whose political fortunes have plummeted in recent months, seems willing to embrace violent methods in an effort to retain power.
Eight opposition parties, meeting July 12, agreed to form a loose alliance with the stated aim of promoting democratic practices in Georgia. In coming together, the parties including the National Democratic Party, the New National Movement and the United Democrats managed to set aside considerable strategic and philosophical differences. They stressed that they had no intention to merge into a single political movement, adding that their action is motivated by a common desire for an open political climate in which disparate ideas can be vigorously debated.
Opposition leaders suggest Shevardnadze is placing his own political ambitions above the state's best interests, and assail the president for failing to take forceful action against recent instances of political violence. "We have to unite first of all because of the evident tendency of the government to criminalize power," said former parliament speaker Zurab Zhvania, who currently leads the United Democrats.
On July 19, opposition leaders and NGO representatives met to discuss a detailed political agenda for the nascent association of Shevardnadze critics. They stressed the need to develop a political framework that repudiated violent methods in the pursuit of political goals. "We believe that unless the rules of the political game are changed completely, the chances for success in this country are slim," said David Usupashvili, deputy chief of the Rule of Law Project, an initiative funded by USAID.
Georgia has experienced an upsurge in political violence in recent months. The early June local elections were marred by numerous instances of criminal activity, including the hijacking of ballot boxes. [For additional information see the Eurasia Insight archives]. Those same elections dealt a severe blow to Shevardnadze's prestige, as the pro-presidential faction of the Citizens Union of Georgia fared poorly and failed to attract sufficient support to win seats for the Tbilisi City Council.
On the heels of the election violence, the July 10 attack against the Liberty Institute heightened fears about the growing volatility of civic and political life in Georgia. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. Meanwhile, right-wing thugs have carried out a series of threats and attacks during 2002 against minority religious groups, in particular Jehovah's Witnesses.
It is the fear that violence will escalate that perhaps played the most important role in motivating opposition and NGO leaders to increase cooperation. Many pointed to Shevardnadze's July 6 pardon of three men convicted of plotting a presidential assassination attempt in 1995 as a threat to stability. One of those pardoned former Interior Ministry official Temur Khachishvili, who was also a key figure in the notorious Mkhedrioni paramilitary organization vowed shortly after his release from prison that he would resort to any method available to prevent reform-minded politicians from coming to power. During a live television interview, Khachishvili specifically named Zhvania and New Nationalist Movement leader Mikhail Saakashvili.
Shevardnadze defended the pardons in a July 8 radio interview, saying he was motivated by an "imperative need to establish an atmosphere of national accord." Opposition leaders scoffed at Shevardnadze's explanation. They suggest Shevardnadze is desperately trying to find new allies, regardless of their attitudes towards democratic practices, in order to reinforce his shaken authority.
Some opposition-leaning political analysts assert that Shevardnadze's loyalty to democratic principles is tenuous. Thus, the opposition alliance is designed in part to ensure that the looming 2003 parliamentary elections are contested in a free and fair atmosphere. "There are two really important things at present: to offer a positive choice to society; and to keep events under control," the Civil Georgia web site quoted political analyst Zurab Chiaberashvili as saying.
Jaba Devdariani is a Founding Director of the UN Association of Georgia and editor of Civil Georgia, an Internet magazine.
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