Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08MOSCOW61
2008-01-11 13:52:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Moscow
Cable title:  

GOR ON GEORGIAN ELECTIONS AND BILATERAL TIES

Tags:  PREL PGOV GG RS 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0001
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHMO #0061 0111352
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 111352Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6095
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHXD/MOSCOW POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 000061 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/11/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV GG RS
SUBJECT: GOR ON GEORGIAN ELECTIONS AND BILATERAL TIES

Classified By: Acting Political M/C Bob Patterson.
Reasons 1.4 (B/D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 000061

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/11/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV GG RS
SUBJECT: GOR ON GEORGIAN ELECTIONS AND BILATERAL TIES

Classified By: Acting Political M/C Bob Patterson.
Reasons 1.4 (B/D).


1. (C) Summary. The GOR is watching closely the events in
Georgia, and has been critical of the "hasty" stamp of
approval given to the January 5 election by international
organizations. It will continue to demand clarification of
alleged election irregularities. Russian MFA officials
stressed that unless Saakashvili proves his sincerity with
concrete measures, his January 6 extension of an olive branch
to Russia, in the form of an expressed desire to improve
bilateral relations, will not be taken seriously. The GOG's
campaign for NATO membership will remain a major irritant.
End summary.


2. (U) In a January 6 statement, the MFA backed the
opposition's claim that the election was rigged, and
criticized the GOG's "numerous violations" of election laws.
The MFA scoffed at U.S. Congressman Hasting's "hasty"
declaration of the "the triumph of Georgian democracy" and
maintained that the election results had been skewed by
Saakashvili's superior administrative resources, undisguised
pressure on opposition candidates, and restrictions on the
media.


3. (C) On January 11, MFA Georgia Desk Chief Aleksandr
Letoshnev told us that pre-election campaign irregularities
were a good indicator of the GOG's general approach to
domestic politics. Intimidation tactics against the
opposition and voters and the liberal use of government money
to fund Saakashvili's election campaign were all documented.
Letoshnev warned that unexplained election irregularities
would continue to plague Georgian internal politics and
negatively affect Russia - Georgia relations. Russia did not
send its own official observer team, although there were
eleven Russian observers in the ODIHR mission. It was not
the GOR but "NGOs and international groups" that had reported
violations, Letoshnev stressed. The planned January 13
opposition demonstration, which Letoshnev claimed could draw
as many as 200,000 participants, would be only one sign that
many Georgians are not satisfied with the conduct of the
election.


4. (C) Letoshnev cited in support of his comments remarks
(taken out of context) made by the head of the OSCE long-term
observer mission Dieter Boden to the effect that the
administration of the election was full of errors, mistakes,
and imperfections. The OSCE, NATO, Department of State, and
European Parliament all had "hastily" declared that the
election was free and fair days before the official counts
were completed, he claimed.


5. (C) Echoing DFM Karasin's January 9 statement to the
press, Letoshnev said that Saakashvili should match his words
of reconciliation with concrete measures, instead of "using
these words to cover up his hostility toward Russia." (In
the wake of the election, the Georgian President had
expressed a willingness to improve bilateral relations with
Russia.) Letoshnev, however, welcomed Saakashvili's
"apparent" new efforts to coordinate better with opposition
political factions in Georgia. Although the GOR has not
received an official invitation, the press had reported
Saakashvili's plan to invite Putin to his January 23
inauguration ceremony. Letoshnev doubted that Putin would
accept the invitation from Saakashvili, who had "actively
engaged in anti-Russian tactics during his election
campaign." Letoshnev predicted that the GOG's push to join
NATO would continue to complicate its already difficult
relationship with Russia.
RUSSELL