UNITED COUNCIL OF OPPOSITION MEETS AMBASSADOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TBILISI 002709

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR DAS BRYZA AND EUR/CARC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/30/2017
TAGS: PGOV GG
SUBJECT: UNITED COUNCIL OF OPPOSITION MEETS AMBASSADOR

REF: A. TBILISI 2559

B. TBILISI 2662

C. TBILISI 2574

Classified By: Ambassador John F. Tefft for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: On October 26, representatives of the
ten-party United National Council of opposition (ref A) met
the Ambassador and presented to him a copy of the four core
demands they submitted earlier to President Saakashvili's and
Parliamentary Speaker Nino Burjanadze's offices. The Council
then appealed to the Ambassador for him, or "someone of equal
rank," to intercede on their behalf with the President and
initiate dialogue, possibly before the planned November 2
protest (ref B). The Ambassador encouraged the Council to
continue dialogue with the government, strongly warned
against violence, and emphasized the importance of rule of
law and U.S. support for judicial reform. On October 28,
businessman and independent opposition figure Badri
Patarkatsishvili (ref C) announced that he would finance the
November 2 protest and asked the opposition to hold it "in a
civilized manner." End Summary.

--------------
Opposition Meets Ambassador,
Reiterates Demands for Government
--------------


2. (C) On October 26, representatives from the ten opposition
parties that constitute the United National Council called on
the Ambassador en bloc. Attendees included: Goga Khaindrava
(Equality Institute, NGO),Zviad Dzidziguri and Kakha Kukava
(Conservative Party),Shalva Natelashvili and Kakha Dzagania
(Labor Party),Shalva Khachapuridze and Marina Muskhelishvili
(Georgia's Way),Koka Guntsadze and Gia Tortladze (United
Georgia, Okruashvili's party),Koba Davitashvili (People's
Party),David Bardavelidze (Freedom Party),Jondo Bagaturia
(Georgian Dasi),Paata Davitaia (We Ourselves),Kakha
Shartava (National Forum),and Levan Gachechiladze
(independent lawmaker). The group presented a list of four
core demands to the Ambassador, which they gave to the
President's and Speaker's offices earlier in the week. To
drive home their demands, the Council has been organizing a
large protest against the Saakashvili government in front of
Parliament on November 2.


3. (C) Conservative representative Kukava presented the first
three demands: 1) hold parliamentary elections in spring 2008
-- the original timeframe under the constitution (changed
last year by Parliament); 2) change the majoritarian system
that applies to half of the seats in Parliament to reflect
one vote/mandate for each individual candidate, rather than
the current "winner-takes-all" system; and, 3) modify or
replace the Central Election Commission, so it includes
members of the opposition. Kukava pointed out that these
points are to ensure the integrity of the election process,
with the main demand being early elections.


4. (C) In a rambling prelude, Shalva Natelashvili introduced
the fourth demand, calling for the release of "political
prisoners," which Khaindrava then finished presenting. The
Council considers Irakli Okruashvili a political prisoner due
to the circumstances of his arrest, regardless of his
complicity in corruption. They said that at least four
opposition party leaders are currently under arrest for
"political reasons." (Comment: This argument was not well
supported in the conversation and was difficult to assess for
accuracy. End Comment.)


5. (C) Kukava stated that the Council had come to the Embassy
together in order to make their demands "clear." The group
said that they wanted cooperation and dialogue with the
President and desired to proceed constitutionally. Kukava
confirmed the Council had provided a letter with their
demands to the President's and Speaker's staffs, but that
they had received no response from either. He carefully
suggested that perhaps the letter was not received by the
President "in the right form" and suggested that perhaps the
right "personality" (indicating the Ambassador) could take
the request to him. Kukava cautioned that the Council had
intentionally not set ultimatums or asked for resignations.



6. (C) Kukava asked if the Ambassador, or someone of similar
rank, could mediate between the Council and the government.
He noted that "time still exists before (the) November 2"
demonstration. Muskhelishvili pointed out that the Council
did not want the Ambassador to defend the opposition, but
rather to help calm the situation.

--------------

TBILISI 00002709 002 OF 002


Regional Protest Turns Ugly,
Patarkatsishvili Stirs the Pot Again
--------------


7. (C) On October 28, at a rally in Zugdidi organized by the
United National Council, several youth assaulted some
opposition members, including Khaindrava. Public Defender
Sozar Subari (the government ombudsman),Speaker Burjanadze
and the opposition roundly condemned the assaults. Local
police were criticized for observing the assaults and taking
no action. (Subsequently, two men were jailed for 20 days
and five others were fined for their part in the attacks.)


8. (C) The same day, in a written statement from London,
Badri Patarkatsishvili announced that he will finance the
Council's campaign for early elections and the November 2
protest rally. He said that he fully supports the
opposition's demands and wanted to finance the campaign in
order to ensure the protests are organized "in a civilized
manner."


9. (C) Government officials, including Tbilisi Mayor Gigi
Ugulava, criticized Patarkatsishvili's offer. Ugulava
decried Patarkatsishvili as a "traitor" and said "his putsch
will not work in Georgia." Others continue to imply that
Patarkatsishvili is being influenced by Russia.


10. (U) New Rightist Chairman David Gamkrelidze (whose party
is not a member of the United National Council and does not
plan to join the protest on November 2) flew to London to
meet with Patarkatsishvili on October 29. Like
Patarkatsishvili, the New Rightists support the call to hold
Parliamentary elections in April. Gamkrelidze said that
Patarkatsishvili can "play a very serious role in maintaining
processes in a constitutional frame." Regarding
Patarkatsishvili's infusion of money to the opposition, he
commented that "it can be only positive if legal money is
used for this campaign, instead of illegal money coming from
foreign countries."

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


11. (C) The disparate group of Council members bickered and
talked over each other during the meeting with the
Ambassador, displaying the cracks in their unity. Kukava
presented most of the formal points, but Goga Khaindrava
dominated the open conversation. Most of the other
opposition leaders did get a chance to say a few words. The
Ambassador stressed several points during the meeting. He
encouraged the Council to continue seeking dialogue and
offered to continue encouraging this with the government as
well. He strongly warned against violence, stressing that
Georgians have seen enough of it. He reiterated that any
changes in election law, or government, should be undertaken
constitutionally. Finally, he agreed that a true,
functioning judiciary is critical to any democracy and that
the USG continues to push hard for judicial reform.
TEFFT