GEORGIA: TBILISI ELECTION UPDATE: 12/07/2007

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TBILISI 003050

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR DAS BRYZA AND EUR/CARC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/06/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV GG
SUBJECT: GEORGIA: TBILISI ELECTION UPDATE: 12/07/2007

REF: TBILISI 3032

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

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Thirteen Candidates Contest Presidential Election
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1. (U) Thirteen presidential candidates each submitted more
than the 50,000 required voter signatures to the Central
Election Commission (CEC) by the December 6 deadline.
Mikheil Saakashvili's National Movement Party submitted
205,000 signatures, Oligarch Badri Patarkatsishvili's
representatives submitted 202,000. New Rightists Davit
Gamkrelidze had 165,000, Labor Party Leader Shalva
Natelshvili presented 75,000, Party of the Future candidate
Gia Maisashvili submitted 68,000, and United National Council
of opposition (UNC) candidate Levan Gachechiladze submitted
63,000. The remaining candidates who met the 50,000
signature threshold are Archil Ioseliani, Russian-leaning
Hope Party candidate Irina Sarishvili, Kartlos Garibashvili,
Levan Kidzinidze, Giorgi Shervashidze, Avtandil Margiani, and
Shalva Kuprashvili. The CEC will check the signatures over
the next two days and candidates will have two additional
days to address any inaccuracies found by the CEC. After
that, the CEC will decide which candidates are eligible. CEC
Chairman Levan Tarknishvili announced that the process should
be completed by December 11.

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Bakradze Defends Openness of Campaign
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2. (C) State Minister for Conflict Resolution David Bakradze
told the diplomatic corps on December 6 that he is taking a
temporary leave of absence to become spokesperson for the
presidential campaign of Saakashvili and the United National
Movement, as permitted by Georgian law. Bakradze emphasized
that the government has a clear will to ensure the election
is free and fair. He acknowledged there have been reports of
excesses in the pre-campaign period but said they were
committed by over-zealous activists and are being quickly
dealt with. He said any of the Ambassadors who hear of a
problem can call him immediately and he will address it.
Most allegations have so far have proven untrue, he said.
For example, the Ministry of Internal Affairs followed up a
report by an opposition MP who claimed he was attacked by UNM
thugs. It turned out to be an incident involving drunken
youths. He also responded to an opposition party leader,s
allegation that his party is blocked from renting office
space in the regions. He said he had spoken to the landlord
in question and found the claim to be false. Bakradze
responded to claims that Saakashvili is misusing
administrative resources in his campaign by stating that the
UNM is paying for everything: "cars, fuel, helicopters,
etc.". The exception is Saakashvili's security detail, which
is the government's responsibility. The government gives
other high profile political leaders, including members of
opposition parties, security as well. Bakradze promised to
provide a list of contracts to prove that the UNM is paying
for services, and called on all parties to be equally
transparent.


3. (C) Bakradze said the UNM,s intention is to run a
positive campaign, focusing on issues rather than character
attacks. He asked his audience to note, for example, that
there have been no references to connections of other
candidates to Russia or criminal backgrounds. He added,
however, that if other candidates attack UNM, they would have
to respond. Challenged to explain why Saakashvili continues
to give orders to ministers from his position as UNM
candidate, Bakradze said Saakashvili is doing so not as a
government official, but as leader of the party. Bakradze
reasoned it is appropriate for a party leader to make sure
the party,s officials know and follow party policy, and this
is no different than in other democratic systems. (Comment:
Bakradze is an eloquent, intelligent and engaging public
speaker who will bring a more positive image to
Saakashvili,s campaign than other spokespersons, such as
Giga Bokeria, whom many voters dislike.)

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Opposition Meets Patarkatsishvili in London
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4. (C) UNC leaders met with Badri Patarkatsishvili in London
on December 6. Republican Party leader Davit Usupashvili
told Rustavi 2 TV the discussions would focus on "shaping
tactics that might prove advantageous to the opposition."
Usupashvili told the Ambassador privately the UNC leaders are
asking Patarkatsishvili to withdraw from the election to

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increase support for UNC candidate Levan Gachechiladze.

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Youth Leaders Express Concern About Elections
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5. (SBU) On December 6, the Ambassador met with an umbrella
organization of students representing different opposition
parties. The students said they felt they were being singled
out for maltreatment and harassment by the police for their
activism. Many of them had been detained after the protests
on November 7. Practically all of the students insisted that
any election Saakashvili wins would be fraudulent. The
students also said they fear continued harassment by law
enforcement if the National Movement won the election.

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Saakashvili Campaign of Promises Continues
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6. (U) Former President Saakashvili pledged to set up a state
bank to provide affordable, long-term credit to small and
medium sized enterprises (SMEs). He said the government
would allocate GEL 300 million immediately and in following
years up to GEL 3 billion to make loans available at 4-10
percent interest rates, in comparison to the 16-20 percent
that is usual at commercial banks. Saakashvili also
announced the opening of business training centers. He said
his main task in his next term as president will be to create
new jobs and business opportunities, and to "take care of
those who cannot work," in the form of increased pensions and
vouchers for utilities and the like. At a December 5 rally
in the Black Sea port of Poti, Saakasvhili announced that a
contract with an operator for Poti's planned free economic
zone will be signed next month. Thousands of job seekers
have responded to a government job program announced just
before Saakashvili left office. The program is having
difficulties coping administratively with the demand and with
finding employers willing to provide the promised jobs.

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Presidential Debates Planned
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7. (U) The Georgian Public Broadcasting (GPB) Channel
announced plans for twice-weekly debates featuring the
presidential candidates. The first debates are scheduled for
December 7, but GPB has not announced the participants.
Several opposition candidates have said they want a
one-on-one debate with Saakashvili but with thirteen
candidates in the running, this seems unlikely.

TEFFT