TBILISI UPDATE: 11/28/2007

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TBILISI 002976 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR DAS BRYZA AND EUR/CARC E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/27/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV GG SUBJECT: TBILISI UPDATE: 11/28/2007 REF: TBILISI 2964 Classified By: Ambassador John F. Tefft for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). -------------- Twenty-Two Bid for Presidency -------------- ¶1. (U) Central Election Commission (CEC) Chairman Levan Tarkhnishvili said, as of the November 26 deadline, twenty-two people had registered for the January 5 presidential election. In addition to Mikheil Saakashvili, oligarch Badri Patarkatsishvili, United National Council of Opposition (UNC) candidate Levan Gachechiladze, New Rights Party leader Davit Gamkrelidze, and Labor Party leader Shalva Natelashvili, other hopefuls include: Green Party leader Giorgi Gachechiladze; Teimuraz Shashiashvili, who was Governor of Imereti under Shevardnadze; and Avtandil Margiani, Deputy PM under Shevardnadze in the early 1990s. Each candidate must submit 50,000 signatures in support of their registration to the CEC by December 5. It is likely many of the candidates will not fulfill this requirement and the candidate field will be reduced to the most well-known politicians. -------------- Acting President Burjanadze Addresses Nation -------------- ¶2. (U) In a November 26 address, Acting President Nino Burjanadze called for "calm and restraint" ahead of the January 5 election "in order to maintain stability in the country," and said state structures and agencies would function as normal during the transitional period. Burjanadze said achievements gained in the past four years by the government should not be overshadowed by mistakes. Burjanadze asked each citizen to "think long and hard before casting a ballot," and called the election a very important test for Georgia, saying "I am sure we will pass." Burjanadze also said she would spare no effort to ensure the elections were free and fair. During her tenure as Acting President, Burjanadze has most of the presidential powers, but she cannot appoint or dismiss ministers or regional governors, and cannot dissolve parliament. -------------- Plebiscite will be held on NATO Membership -------------- ¶3. (U) The president's office announced a plebiscite to be held January 5 for Georgians to say whether they support Georgia's efforts to join NATO. The decree authorizing the plebiscite, which can be called by the president on issues of state importance, was signed before Saakashvili stepped down as president. Debate over Georgia's chances to gain MAP in 2008 continue as ruling party MP Givi Targamadze said it was now a more complicated but not tragic situation. Georgia's Way leader Salome Zourabichvili, who returned from Europe November 27, told Rustavi 2 TV that Georgia's chance to gain MAP in April "was almost equal to zero." -------------- Lomaia: Open and Free Elections a Must -------------- ¶4. (C) Alexander (Kakha) Lomaia, the newly appointed Secretary of the National Security Council and the SIPDIS government's coordinator for the international community on elections (reftel),told US elections assistance group members that the atmosphere leading up to the elections is very important and media monitoring is crucial for establishing a positive atmosphere. Lomaia said the government will encourage media to allot to the opposition more media time than the minimum permitted by law. Lomaia also said opinion polling and exit polls are important to establish the legitimacy of the results. Lomaia said he wants to work closely with international organizations to guarantee all conditions are met so the election results can be declared above board. ¶5. (C) On Patarkatsishvili's candidacy, Lomaia said despite credible proof of Patarkatsishvili's attempts to destabilize the current administration, he would not be arrested if he returned to Georgia to campaign. Lomaia added the government did not want to see a presidential candidate jailed during the election and he was "99 percent sure" it wouldn't occur, unless something "outrageous happened." Lomaia said rumors that National Movement Party members were masquerading as tax police to blackmail business owners to vote for Saakashvili were likely a case of overzealous party members promoting the cause, but he added the situation was resolved. Lomaia said TBILISI 00002976 002 OF 002 informal dialogue between the opposition and Acting President Burjanadze continued, even though the majority of election code amendments had been adopted. Lomaia said Burjanadze told him she was in constant communication with opposition leaders. -------------- Patarkatsishvili's Assets Targeted -------------- ¶6. (U) The National Bank of Georgia appointed a temporary administrator to Standard Bank November 27 because of liquidity concerns. Patarkatsishvili's lawyers said he has "indirect interests" in the bank and the company that manages Patarkatsishvili's USD100 million portfolio in Georgia, Salford Capital, said this was part of a systematic campaign by authorities to target Patarkatsishvili's assets. This move follows the closure of Imedi TV and radio, and the seizure of Patarkatsishvili's Tbilisi-based amusement park. Salford Capital chief executive Irakli Rukhadze is also under investigation for unlawfully "exercising influence" at the National Bank. Salford Capital executives met with PM Lado Gurgenidze November 26 to discuss the actions against Standard Bank and the law firm hired by Patarkatsishvili to represent his interests sent a letter to PM Gurgenidze protesting the action. -------------- -------------- Opposition MP Beaten in Tbilisi, Accuses Government -------------- -------------- ¶7. (U) On November 27 police arrested three men suspected of the November 26 attack on Our Georgia MP Merab Khurtsidze. The Interior Ministry released a taped video confession of one of the suspects claiming the assault was due to an argument between Khurtsidze and the suspects. Our Georgia Parliamentary faction leader MP Valeri Gelbakhiani, said the attack was a "political reprisal" by authorities but Burjanadze said "as usual, the authorities were blamed (for the attack)." She also praised the Interior Ministry for its immediate response to "a very unpleasant incident." Khurtsidze left the ruling party to join Our Georgia in October. -------------- -------------- Georgian Media Council, Opposition Seek Level Playing Field -------------- -------------- ¶8. (U) The Georgian Media Council, made up of journalists and media experts, drew up a list of 12 recommendations aimed at ensuring the elections are objectively covered, including calling for equal airtime for all major candidates and asking channels to refrain from broadcasting unverified stories. Opposition candidates have also drawn attention to the necessity for the media to be more fair in its coverage of all candidates during the election period. Several opposition leaders appeared on television November 27 to call for televised debates that would include all candidates and focus on the issues. TEFFT