Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TBILISI2272
2007-09-07 13:18:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Tbilisi
Cable title:  

REGIONAL GOVERNORS - WHO ARE THEY?

Tags:  PGOV ECON PINR GG 
pdf how-to read a cable
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1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.


2. (SBU) Summary: Following a series of scandals involving the
misuse of public funds by newly elected local officials, the
Georgian Parliament recently passed two laws that strengthen the
powers of regional Governors, who are appointed by the President, to
exercise "state supervision" and ensure compliance of local
self-government bodies with the "interests, goals and policy" of the
state. Increasing the authority of the Governors may help with the
formulation and subsequent implementation of economic development of
Georgia's undeveloped regions. However, this will need to be done
carefully as some may claim that these new powers are counter to the
goal of decentralizing power from federal to local structures. This
cable contains a brief summary of the current regional Governors of
Georgia, whose personalities - some of which tend toward that of a
local prince, rather than an institutional manager of local
self-governance - may prove decisive in the development of Qorgia's
regions. End Summary.

Promising steps towards local self-government
--------------


3. (U) The ratification of the European Charter on Local
Self-governance and subsequent adoption of the Law on Local
Self-governance by the Georgian parliament in 2005 created the
political and legal environment required for the development of
full-fledged self-government institutions. The new legislation
envisaged the termination of the existing subordination of local
bodies to the central authorities, primarily through ensuring the
separation of powers of state and local governments, bolstering the
independence of local government bodies, and encouraging the
participation of citizens in the exercise of self-governance. This
marked an entirely new approach to local governance in the top-down
world of the former Soviet Union. The legislation and subsequent
local elections in 2006 were assessed by experts as the most
promising advance towards local self-governance in Georgian history.


Links to the non-transparent past
--------------


4. (U) According to the new legislation, the main entities of local

self-government are, "a settlement (a self-governing city) or an
amalgamation of settlements (municipality),which have local
self-government representative and executive bodies." The law does
not provide for the institution of the President's Representative in
the regions or a Regional Governor, though it stipulates state
supervision over local self-government bodies, which has been in
practice since the Shevardnadze era. At that time, the rationale
for the state supervision by the President's Representative was the
difficult period of transition towards democracy, which necessitated
presence of a "strong presidential hand" in the regions.
Shevardnadze also established a Governor's Special Fund to
"implement targeted programs of regional development." Lacking
transparency, this fund has been invalidated by the current
government, though the institution of the Representative is being
retained. Currently, Georgia has nine regions with respective
entities of locally elected governments. However, in addition, each
region is also governed by the superimposed authority of the
President's Representative.

Links to the unclear future
--------------


5. (U) In order to address the existing legislative uncertainties
surrounding the President's Representative, Georgian Parliament
recently adopted two laws: Amendments to the Law on Structure,
Authority and the Rule of Activity of the Government of Georgia and
Law on State Supervision over the Activities of Local
Self-government Bodies. The laws provide for the institution of
President's Representative/Governor who "shall be the representative
of the President and the Government of Georgia in territorial
units". As stipulated by the legislation, the Governor, appointed
and dismissed by the President, shall control implementation of the
laws of Georgia in territorial units, implement regional programs of
social-economic development, provide recommendations on the
suspension or termination of locals council activities, under
circumstances threatening to the sovereignty of the country, or
constitutional authority of state bodies. Most importantly,
Governors shall exercise "state supervision" to ensure "the legality
and expediency of the activities of local self-government bodies and
officials", and "legal supervision" to ensure "compliance of the
normative acts issued by local self-government bodies and officials
with Georgian legislation." Beyond coordinating regional interests,
goals and policy with those determined by the federal state,
Governors shall also administer state budget resources in accordance
"with public interests."


6. (U) Critics of the legislation fear that it will bestow too much

TBILISI 00002272 002.2 OF 005


authority to regional governors, who are not popularly elected and
report directly to the president. Furthermore, opponents believe
the proposed laws will provide little oversight of the regional
administrators from the federal government, and even fewer checks
and balances from the local government institutions. Supporters
contend that the locally elected officials, most of whom grew up and
prospered in the era of rampant corruption of the Shevardnadze
period, need additional oversight in order to ensure that federal
funds given to local authorities are spent on constituent needs.
Indeed, the ruling party forced a group of local officials to resign
after they spent most of the local funds from the poor area of
Kutaisi on new Mercedes vehicles and the refurbishment of their
offices.

Personalities Gallery
--------------


7. (SBU) At present, the governors who will be given the above
leverages to exercise the presidential power in the regions are the
following:

Giorgi Natsvlishvili - Kakheti region
--------------

Kakheti - a wine region of Georgia - comprises eight districts with
the total population of approximately 407,182. Kakheti borders on
Azerbaijan and North Caucasus and provides shelter to a sizable
community of refugees from Chechnya. Gia Natsvlishvili was
appointed Governor of Kakheti region on November 27, 2006.

Natsvlishvili was born on July 4, 1963, in Tbilisi. In 1985, he
graduated from the Technical University of Georgia faculty of
hydro-technical facilities. Natsvlishvili also graduated from the
secondary faculty with a major in English technical translation.
In 1997, he was awarded a PhD in technical science, and in 2003 the
rank of Doctor. He is a member of the International Association of
Hydraulic Specialists, author of 30 scientific papers, a member of
the International Association of American Scientists "Sigma XI".
From 1988 to 2003, Natsvlishvili headed various businesses.

From 1987, Natsvlishvili became involved in the National Liberation
Movement and was one of the founders of the Christian-Democratic
Union of Georgia. In 1992, he took part in the military actions in
Abkhazia and is a veteran of the Abkhazian war. He participated
actively in the foundation of the National Movement and was its
Executive Secretary until 2004. In 2004, Natsvlishvili became
member of the Tbilisi Sakrebulo, and was a Member of Georgian
Parliament from April 22, 2004, as the Deputy Chairman of the
Parliamentary Committee on Branch Economy and Economic Reforms.

According to a local NGO source, the majority of Kakheti residents
think very highly of Natsvlishvili as a young and energetic leader,
and he has a positive reputation among civil society actors in
Kakheti.


Vasil Maghlaperidze - Mtskheta- Mtianeti
--------------

Mtskheta- Mtianeti is rich in hydro-resources and forest parks, and
has good prospects for livestock, grain harvesting and beer
production. The region of Georgia's ancient capital Mtskheta also
has a significant potential for tourism development. It comprises
five districts with the total population of approximately 125,443.
Vasil Maglaperidze was appointed Governor of Mtskheta- Mtianeti on
March 1, 2005.

Vasil Maglaperidze was born in Tbilisi, on September 5, 1958. In
1980, he graduated from the Tbilisi State University faculty of
philology. In 1989, Maglaperidze was awarded a PhD in philology.
From 1988, he worked as a researcher at the Tbilisi State University
department of ancient Georgian literature, and from 1984 to 1999 was
a teacher of Georgian language and literature at a secondary school
in Tbilisi. In 1999, and again in 2004, Maglaperidze was elected as
a member of Parliament. In 2004, he was elected Chairman of the
Georgian Parliament's temporary Commission on restoration of
territorial integrity of Georgia.

Maglaperidze is generally perceived as an obedient and decent public
servant who will neither do any damage, nor be proactive to achieve
independent results.


Mikheil Kareli - Shida Kartli
--------------

Shida Kartli has a strong potential for fruit and vegetable
processing industry development. The region actually encompasses
the conflict zone in South Ossetia and comprises four districts

TBILISI 00002272 003.3 OF 005


under Georgian jurisdiction, with a total population of
approximately 314,039. Mikheil Kareli was appointed Governor of
Shida Kartli in January 2004.

Kareli was born on September 3, 1975, in the city of Gori. He
graduated from the Gori State Economic Institute's economic records
faculty with a major in accounting and economic analysis. He also
graduated from the Tbilisi State University faculty of law, majoring
in jurisprudence, and was awarded the qualification of a lawyer.
Kareli worked from 1998 to 2001 as the Sakrebulo Chairman of the
Tkviavi community of Gori district. Between 2002 and 2003, he was
the Board Chairman of the NGO "Union of Fighting Against
Corruption". From 2003 to 2004, Kareli was the executive secretary
of the Gori branch of the United National Movement.

Kareli, said to be protg of the former Minister of Defense Irakli
Okruashvili, is also known for his autocratic ways of management.
Some believe he rules as a prince of a fiefdom, rather than as a
high executive. However, his position, which is owed to an earlier
promotion by Okruashvili, has become quite precarious recently.


Zurab Melikishvili - Kvemo Kartli
--------------


Kvemo Kartli borders Armenia and Azerbaijan and comprises a major
portion of Georgia's ethnic Azeri Muslim population. The region is
rich in arable land and pastures for livestock breeding. It
consists of six districts with the total population of approximately
497,530. Zurab Melikishvili was appointed Governor of Kvemo Kartli
in December 2004.

Melikishvili was born on February 15, 1971, in Tbilisi. In 1993,
Melikishvili graduated from the Javakhishvili Tbilisi State
University faculty of chemistry, and later in 1997 from the faculty
of jurisprudence of the Nutsubidze Institute "Ritorika". Between
1993 and 1996, Melikishvili worked as the chairman of the Georgian
International Red Cross Society organization in Vake district;
vice-president of the youth organization of the IRCS. From 1999 to
2000, he served as an invited specialist at the Georgian Parliament.
Between 2000 and 2001, Melikishvili worked at the Ministry of
Justice of Georgia, Head of the Minister's office. Melikishvili was
one of the founders of National Movement, as a coordinator of
organizational issues. From December 2003 to January 2004,
Melikishvili was Governor of Kvemo Kartli. In early 2004, he was
appointed First Deputy Head of the President's Office, and served
later that year as the State Minister on Regional Issues.

Melikishvili, though a good "apparatchik", makes very rare public
appearances and his role in the region is nearly invisible.


Aaki Bobokhidze - Imereti
--------------

Imereti is rich in coal, manganese, limestone, mineral waters and
hydro resources. The region of Georgia's second largest city of
Kutaisi comprises eleven districts with the total population of
approximately 699,666. Akaki Bobokhidze was appointed Governor of
Imereti in November 2006.

Bobokhidze was born on September 14, 1964, in the village Gord,
Khoni district. In 1986, he graduated from the Tbilisi
Javakhishvili State University faculty of mechanics and mathematics.
From 1986 to 1990, Bobokhidze worked at the Kutaisi Polytechnics
Institute. In 1990, Bobokhidze became a member of the Supreme
Council of Georgia, and later in 1992, a member of the State Council
of Georgia. From 1992 to 1995, he served in the Georgian
Parliament. Between 1998 and 2001, Bobokhidze was the Ombudsman's
Trustee on Political Issues. From 2001 to 2004, Bobokhidze served a
second term in Parliament. In 2005, he was appointed Governor of
Imereti. One year later, he resigned from the post to become Head
of the National Guard Department. On November 10, 2006, he was
re-appointed Governor of Imereti.

At various times, Bobokhidze was a member of both the Republican
Party and People's Party, finally joining the National Movement
later in his career. His resignation from the Governor's position
stemmed from a scandal involving Bobokhidze's assault of a
journalist following a television interview. The episode further
damaged Bobokhidze's public reputation, which was already held in
low esteem due to endeavors seen as opportunistic and
self-serving.


Giorgi Khachidze - Samtskhe- Javakheti
--------------
Samtskhe-Javakheti borders Turkey and Armenia and comprises the

TBILISI 00002272 004.2 OF 005


largest portion of Georgia's ethnic Armenians. The region has a
strong potential for meat and dairy-products development. It
consists of six districts with the total population of approximately
207,598. Giorgi Khachidze was appointed governor of
Samtskhe-Javakheti in March 2005.

Khachidze was born on February 9, 1974. In 1997, Khachidze
graduated from the Tbilisi State University, majoring in biology and
journalism. Between 1994 and 2000, he worked for state-run Channels
I and II on Georgian Television, as well as for the television
companies "Ibervizia", "Rustavi-2", "202". During this time,
Khachidze also worked in the press-service of the Ministry of
Defense, as well as for radio station "105", radio "Rezonansi", and
newspaper "Rezonansi". In November 2002, he founded the Khashuri
office of the "United Democrats" party. From November 2003 to March
2004, he was the Deputy Gamgebeli of Khashuri rayon. From March to
October, 2004, he was a Member of Georgian Parliament, elected
through National Movement party lists. From October, 2004 to March,
2005 he was appointed Governor in Mtskheta-Mtianeti region.

Khachidze was also a relatively popular pop-singer and managed to
transfer his personable qualities to his managerial work as well.
Khachidze is quite liked by the local NGO community, which stresses
his regular work with civil society organizations and his focus on
concrete achievements. Khachidze's strongest asset is said to be
his ability to work with people, despite their religion or
ethnicity.


Zaza Gorozia - Samegrelo and Upper Svaneti
--------------

Samegrelo and Upper Svaneti border on the conflict zone in Abkhazia,
and is presently home to the largest share of Georgia's IDPs from
Abkhazia. The region is rich in hydro-resources, non-ferrous
metals, and arable land for citrus cultivation. It comprises
eight districts, including the industrial port town of Poti, with
the total population of approximately 466,100. Zaza Gorozia was
appointed Governor of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti in July 2005.

Gorozia was born in Martvili district, Samegrelo on February 11,

1975. In 1999, he graduated from the Medical Academy of Tbilisi,
and later continued post-graduate studies with the major in
healthcare management. From 2000 to 2001, Gorozia worked as an
intern at the healthcare department of the Ministry of Justice of
Georgia. In 2003, Gorozia served on the Central Elections
Commission. From 2003 to 2005, he was appointed as Deputy, and
later promoted as Head of the Tbilisi City Hall's Healthcare and
Social Services. He is currently member of the United National
Movement.

Gorozia is seen by many not only as a good party functionary, but
also as a good manager enthusiastic about local projects and capable
of delivering results. At the same time, Gorozia still has to
overcome another existing perception which holds him as a 'cocksure'
young guy, 'having his fling' while he is still the ruler of
Samegrelo region.


Mikheil Svimonoshvili - Guria
--------------

Guria holds strong potential for agricultural development of tea,
citrus, hazel nuts, and mineral water. The region comprises three
districts with the total population of approximately 143,357.
Mikheil Svimonishvili was appointed Governor of Guria in November

2006.

Svimonishvili was born on April 7, 1976, in Tbilisi. In 1993,
Svimonishvili attended technical college of the German city of
Bruchsal, majoring in trade economy, and later pursued post-graduate
studies at the Ivane Javakhishvili State University of Tbilisi, with
the major in business-information technology. Between 1997 and
1999, he studied in Switzerland at the economic faculty of the
Zurich University. In 1998, he took a one-year qualification
improvement course at the Swiss Banking School. In 1997, together
with Swiss partners, Svimonishvili founded the company "Tskali
Margebeli", Ltd., which produces the mineral water Nabeghlavi. At
the same time, he is a founder of the Ltd. "Alami" and "Ali Georgian
Motors". Until December 2004, he worked as the Head of the Tbilisi
City Hall Service of city planning. On December 17, 2004, he was
appointed the Minister of Agriculture of Georgia.

Svimonishvili is not perceived as a person wholeheartedly dedicated
to the region, but rather as a temporary 'fixture' who was assigned
to this position against his will and who would be looking for the
first feasible opportunity to turn a "new leaf" in his career.



TBILISI 00002272 005.2 OF 005


Otar Siradze - Racha-Lechkhumi and Lower Svaneti
-------------- ---

Racha-Lechkhumi and Lower Svaneti holds good prospects for tourism
and recreational development. Its rich mineral water resources
holds strong potential for the bottled water industry . It
comprises four districts with the total population of approximately
50,969. Otar Siradze was appointed Governor of Racha-Lechkhumi and
Lower Svaneti in March, 2005.

Siradze was born in 1975 in the town of Ambrolauri, Racha region.
In 1997, he graduated from the Humanities Institute of Georgia with
the qualification of the manager of economic relations. He later
continued post-graduate studies in economics at the State University
of Tbilisi. Between 1995 and 2002, Siradze worked as the Deputy
Director of company Laba, Ltd., and as Assistant Head of the Office
of the Minister of State Property Management. From 2003 to 2004, he
was the Head of the Office of the Agency of Enterprise Management, a
public legal entity. In 2005, Siradze was appointed the Deputy Head
of the Georgian Government's Department on Regional Policy.

Siradze is probably the least known Governor of the regions of
Georgia, apparently shunning any public appearances.
Racha-Lechkhumi and Lower Svaneti, one of the most beautiful parts
of Georgia, would benefit tremendously from having energetic
leadership focused on intensive road development and local
tourism/recreation development projects.

Comment
--------------


8. (SBU) Comment: Strengthening of the institution of regional
governors - unelected officials appointed by and directly
subordinate to the president - may help with the development and
subsequent implementation of comprehensive strategies for the
economic development of Georgia's regions. It is also a way to
provide oversight over the fledgling and inexperienced (at least in
democracy) local officials. Based on a review of qualifications,
background, and performance in current and previous positions, there
is some question as to whether the actual incumbents can be expected
to perform their mandates effectively. It will be important that
implementation of these laws is done in a way which allows for the
continued decentralization of federal structures, empowerment of
locally elected officials, and deferral of decisions to the local
level. We will actively encourage such an approach. End comment.
TEFFT