Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TBILISI2791
2007-11-08 15:57:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tbilisi
Cable title:  

SAAKASHVILI ANNOUNCES PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS FOR

Tags:  PREL PGOV PHUM GG 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO1742
OO RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHSI #2791 3121557
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 081557Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY TBILISI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8148
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L TBILISI 002791 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR DAS BRYZA AND EUR/CARC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/08/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM GG
SUBJECT: SAAKASHVILI ANNOUNCES PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS FOR
JANUARY 5

REF: TBILISI 2789

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

C O N F I D E N T I A L TBILISI 002791

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR DAS BRYZA AND EUR/CARC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/08/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM GG
SUBJECT: SAAKASHVILI ANNOUNCES PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS FOR
JANUARY 5

REF: TBILISI 2789

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


1. (C) Summary. In a live address November 8 President
Saakashvili announced his intention to hold a presidential
election on January 5, 2008, effectively giving up a year of
his term. According to the constitution, Speaker Nino
Burjanadze will assume the presidency until the election
date. Saakashvili also said a referendum will be held for
voters to decide if parliamentary elections will be held in
spring or fall 2008. Saakashvili said he thought the state
of emergency would likely lapse before the 48 hour deadline
passed requiring Parliamentary approval. Prior to his
address, Saakashvili told the Ambassador amnesty would be
given to almost all protesters arrested except for a few
opposition leaders implicated in the plot to overthrow the
government and he did not yet know what would happen to the
IMEDI television station.


2. (C) President Saakashvili made the live announcement of
his resignation on television November 8 at 1900. He said
presidential elections will be held on January 5, 2008. He
also announced a referendum on the date of parliamentary
elections to allow voters to decide on fall or spring
elections. In his address, Saakashvili said the opposition
had "knocked on the door demanding early elections and he was
opening the door."


3. (C) Saakashvili said the state of emergency would likely
lapse before the Parliament would have a chance to vote on
its continuance.


4. (C) Saakashvili told the Ambassador in a phone call
earlier in the day that Shalva Natelashvili and his family
had fled to Russia on November 7 via Tskhinvali. The
government believes Natelashvili, along with opposition
leader Konstantine Gamsakhurdia, received Russian money to
use the November 2 protests to overthrow the government and
are now wanted (reftel). Saakashvili also said Burjanadze
would meet with several moderate representatives of the
opposition, including Davit Gamkrelidze, Gogi Topadze, Zurab
Tkmeladze, and David Usupashvili.
TEFFT