BURJANADZE SPEAKS OUT, OPPOSITION CALLS FOR

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TBILISI 002483

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR DAS BRYZA AND EUR/CARC

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM GG
SUBJECT: BURJANADZE SPEAKS OUT, OPPOSITION CALLS FOR
ELECTIONS, NEW CHARGES AGAINST OKRUASHVILI

REF: A. TBILISI 2437

B. TBILISI 2464


1. (U) Summary: In her first comments regarding the
Okruashvili arrest, Parliamentary Speaker Nino Burjanadze
called Okruashvili's allegations against President
Saakashvili "absurd" and criticized the Government's
personnel policy which allowed people such as Okruashvili to
enter government. She also called the government's delay in
reacting to former Defense Minister Okruashvili's wrongdoings
a mistake. Burjanadze called for constructive dialogue with
the opposition. A new opposition coalition, called the
United National Council, announced plans to launch a
nationwide campaign to persuade the GoG to hold early
Parliamentary elections in April 2008. The coalition
announced plans to travel to all regions of Georgia and
promised a second large rally on November 2. Over 700 people
attended an opposition meeting October 3 to discuss the
coalition's next steps. Deputy Prosecutor General Gvaramia
announced additional charges of corruption against
Okruashvili involving high level Defense Ministry officials
and Okruashvili's friend Kibar Khalvashi. End Summary.

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Speaker Burjanadze Breaks Silence, Calls for Dialogue
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2. (U) On October 3 in her first comments regarding
Okruashvili's arrest, Burjanadze called Okruashvili's
accusations against President Saakashvili "utterly absurd."
She added the only way to resolve the political uproar is for
Okruashvili to provide evidence of his claims or be held
responsible for his own wrongdoings. Burjanadze also
criticized law enforcement for not arresting Okruashvili in a
timely manner. She stated the GoG needs to reassess its
personnel policy for making ministerial and other
high-ranking appointments. She cited Okruashvili's ability
to reach high office as evidence the system is seriously
flawed and requires reconsideration. Burjanadze also called
for "serious dialogue" with the opposition to develop
mechanisms jointly which will strengthen democratic
institutions and instill trust in the GoG. She added that
polarization between society and the authorities is
unacceptable for the country's interests.

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Opposition Coalesces, Calls for Early Elections
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3. (U) On October 2, the opposition coalition, now calling
itself the United National Council and including ten parties,
called for Georgia to become a "parliamentary republic" and
for parliamentary elections to be moved to April 2008, as
formerly scheduled. Absent from the meetings were the
Industrialists and the New Rightists (ref B),as well as
Irina Sarishvili's recently founded Imedi party. In a
meeting held October 3 in the Chess Palace, over 700 people
gathered to hear historian Marika Lortkipanidze argue that
the Georgian people should hold a referendum to make any
changes in the government. Many objected to her remarks,
including Georgia's Way leader Salome Zourbichvili, who left
the hall in protest. The slogan "Georgia without a
President" was the theme of the rally, reflecting the idea of
making Georgia a parliamentary republic. The United National
Council plans to follow the meeting with visits to all
regions of Georgia to meet with intellectuals and other
strata of society that are dissatisfied with the government.
The opposition plans a rally on November 2 in Tbilisi and
they hope to surpass the scale of the protest held before
Parliament on September 28.

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New Charges Against Okruashvili
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4. (U) On October 3 Deputy Attorney General Nikoloz Gvaramia
made public new charges against Okruashvili and several
former high-ranking Defense Ministry officials, including the
former Head of Procurements at the MOD, Iason Chikhladze.
The charges allege the Ministry paid USD200,000 over actual
cost for aviation fuel purchased from a company co-owned by
high ranking Defense Ministry officials and their business
associates. Gvaramia presented statements from the head of
security for Okruashvili's close friend, Kibar Khalvashi, and
Chikhladze. Gvaramia also outlined further details of the
purchase of Okruashvili's party headquarters for less than
fair value.

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TBILISI 00002483 002 OF 002


MP From Ruling Party calls Okruashvili a "Political Prisoner"
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5. (U) Guguli Magradze, was the first MP from Saakashvili's
National Movement Party to call Okruashvili a "political
prisoner." She said she does not claim Okruashvili is
innocent; it is up to the courts to decide, but she
questioned the timing of the arrest. She thanked Saakashvili
for his reform efforts but blamed unspecified members in his
administration for undermining his efforts to promote
democracy. She is the first MP from the ruling National
Movement to criticize the government publicly for the arrest.


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More Speculation on Patarkatsishvili
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6. (U) Georgian media continues to speculate on the plans of
Georgian businessman and opposition figure, Badri
Patarkatsishvili, to enter politics. David Usupashvili,
leader of the Republican Party and Konstantine Gamsakhurdia,
leader of the Freedom party, both commented that
Patarkatsishvili has always been indirectly engaged in
politics and his appearance would not be a surprise.

TEFFT