TBILISI UPDATE: 11/21/07

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TBILISI 002948

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DEPT FOR EUR DAS BRYZA AND EUR/CARC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/20/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV GG
SUBJECT: TBILISI UPDATE: 11/21/07


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

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Opposition Leaders Share Latest Plans for Election
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1. (C) United National Council of Opposition (UNC) members
met with Ambassador November 21 to express their concerns
about continuing government "oppression" of November 7
protesters, government misuse of administrative resources to
campaign, and the indefinite closure of Imedi. Goga
Khaindrava expressed concern that well-known independent
economist Gia Khukhashvili is currently being detained by the
General Prosecutor's Office because of his association with
Badri Patarkatsishvili. Republican Party leader Davit
Usupashvili added that he had met with Khukhashvili before
and he felt there was no reason to suspect Khukhashvili has
any affiliation with Russia. Khaindrava said the opposition
is concerned President Saakashvili is using the
government-controlled Public Broadcasting channel to paint
opposition members as Russian spies (see para 3).
Usupashvili accused Saakashvili of using state television,
law enforcement, and the General Prosecutor's Office to
systematically carry out his policies against the opposition
and to directly aid his presidential campaign. Usupashvili
asked for USG assistance to urge the Georgian government to
stop targeting opposition members for arrest and detention.
The UNC leaders were most concerned about Imedi's reopening
as the opposition would be unable to run an effective
campaign without access to media outside of government
controlled channels. Koba Davitashvili told the Ambassador
the UNC had requested permission from the government for the
scheduled November 25 rally in Rike.


2. (C) In a separate meeting, Labor Party Presidential
candidate Shalva Natelashvili shared his version of the
November 7 unrest. He told the Ambassador more than half of
the protesters were his supporters, who led him to Rike after
the crowd in front of the Parliament was disbanded.
Natelashvili said he felt he had to remain with his
supporters and was not protected by his status as a political
leader when he was hit with 30 teargas canisters.
Natelashvili discounted rumors he had fled to Russia, saying
he needed to receive medical attention and the only place he
could do that was Georgia. Natelashvili said he left Tbilisi
immediately after the November 7 unrest because he feared the
government's "spetznaz" planned to come to his house to kill
him. Natelashvili also complained about the broadcast of
two-year old footage of his "legitimate" meetings with
Russian diplomats in an attempt to brand him as a Russian
collaborator. Natelashvili characterized his relationship
with Imedi co-owner Badri Patarkatsishvili as good, and he
did not rule out Patarkatsishvili running for president.

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Public Broadcasting Channel Airs Film on "Coup Plot"
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3. (C) The documentary, "November to November," aired
November 20 on the Georgian Public Broadcasting channel, and
later on Rustavi 2 and Mze TV, outlined the government
version of events leading to the November 7 unrest within the
larger context of Georgian-Russian relations since the Rose
Revolution. The documentary made claims the anti-government
demonstrations were part of a Russian-backed coup attempt,
financed by Imedi co-owner Badri Patarkatsishvili, and
incited by Imedi TV. The documentary alleged the Russian
Federal Security Service coordinated the demonstrations. The
documentary also claimed Irakli Okruashvili was part of the
plot to destabilize the government, saying Okruashvili
originally planned a military mutiny on September 27, but was
stopped by the government's quick counter measures. (Note:
The press reported a September 27 disturbance at a military
bases among soldiers who were supposedly drunk. The deputy
chief of the joint staff told Embassy's Defense Attache at
the time it was simply a "disciplinary issue." Reaction to
the film varied widely, with some viewers believing the film
strengthened the government's position, while others felt the
government looked foolish for supporting obvious propaganda.
UNC leaders complained this film was another example of the
government using its resources to promote their viewpoint.

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Claims State Employees Pressured to Vote for Saakashvili
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4. (U) Former MP for the National Movement Guguli Magradze,
who was dismissed by the ruling party after taking
independent stands on several issues, said state employees,
including teachers, are under pressure from their employers
to vote for Saakashvili. Parliamentary Speaker Nino

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Burjanadze did not rule out the possibility activists from
the ruling party were doing this to "prove their loyalty to
the party." She said such action was counterproductive and
should be "immediately eradicated."

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Burjanadze Supports European Experts on Media Bias
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5. (U) Burjanadze said November 20 the Georgian authorities
are working with European experts on a model to ensure Imedi
TV broadcasts are unbiased. EU Special Envoy for the South
Caucasus said November 16 the EU would not serve a "mediation
function" but would provide experts. Nona Kandiashvili,
managing director of Imedi Radio, which is shutdown along
with the TV station, sought assistance from the Public
Defender Sozar Subari on November 20 to resolve the
situation.

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Saakashvili Continues Popularity Campaign
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6. (U) President Saakashvili continued his push for dialogue
with the Georgian public in a meeting November 20 with World
War II veterans and pensioners. During the meeting, aired
live on television, Saakashvili said the Tbilisi city
government would look at how to address increasing public
transport fees. In a speech earlier in the day to Georgian
athletes, Saakashvili said the development of a sports
infrastructure was a matter of "personal prestige."
Saakashvili seemed to be addressing skeptics directly, saying
"I am not here to win your hearts and minds ahead of polls,
but I promise we will do everything to resolve any
shortcomings."

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Gamkrelidze Statement on Elections
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7. (U) In a November 20 interview on Rustavi-2, presidential
candidate David Gamkrelidze said his main goal in the
election was to prevent a first-round victory by Saakashvili.
He urged each candidate to "mobilize his voters to take as
many votes from Saakashvili as possible." Gamkrelidze said
he would withdraw from the elections in favor of the
opposition candidate who won the majority of votes in the
first-round, and he urged other candidates to do the same.
TEFFT