GEORGIA PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION UPDATE MAY 6

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TBILISI 000756 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/CARC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM GG SUBJECT: GEORGIA PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION UPDATE MAY 6 REF: TBILISI 726 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: The environment surrounding Georgia's parliamentary election campaign degraded during the week. The Joint Opposition scuffled outside the Central Election Commission (CEC),while their youth wing did the same near the CEC Chairman's home. The Joint Opposition called for rallies on May 7 and May 21. Joint Opposition leaders Kakha Kukava and David Gamkrelidze said the current tension with Russia over Abkhazia benefits President Saakashvili's party, implying it could be intentional. In Dmanisi, the Precinct Election Commission (PEC) Chairman and a United National Movement (UNM) coordinator assaulted and wounded two opposition-appointed PEC members. Separately, Tarkhnishvili said a CEC representative was assaulted in Isani. The opposition Industrialists complained of intimidation and threatened to leave the race. Pol/Econ Chief encouraged CEC Chairman Tarkhnishvili to maintain maximum transparency in the election process and ensure a perception of independent and inclusive CEC leadership. USAID offered additional training for CEC staff. On May 2, the DCM raised with Minister of Finance Gilauri reports of financial police soliciting campaign donations. The National Democratic Institute (NDI) recent pre-election report assesses additional action is necessary to restore public confidence in the elections. Imedi TV resumed transmission of non-news programming on May 5. End Summary. Joint Opposition Protests, Calls for More -------------- ¶2. (U) On the evening of May 1, the Joint Opposition (the United National Council of Opposition (UNC) and the New Rightists) staged a protest in front of the CEC. Levan Gachechiladze led the protest and called for a rally outside the CEC on Election Day, May 21. He also called for a rally before Parliament on May 7, to "Remember November 7." The protest turned into an ugly scuffle, when Gachechiladze and his supporters struggled with policemen at the CEC and actually tried to nail boards across the building's entrance. Gachechiladze said he would "personally grab Tarkhnishvili by the necktie and drag him before the people for judgment if he announces rigged results." Gachechiladze also denounced CEC Secretary Gizo Mchedlidze (calling him the "Grey Cardinal") and President Saakashvili, saying that the opposition would "not tolerate ballot-rigging." ¶3. (U) On May 2, the youth wing of the Joint Opposition staged a protest at the home of CEC Chairman Levan Tarkhnishvili. There, they accused Tarkhnishvili of forging the results of the January presidential election. The protest involved some physical confrontation with Tarkhnishvili's neighbors, and several activists were taken to a hospital for minor injuries. On May 3, the heads of the CEC's seven departments issued a joint statement condemning the protest as an intrusion of privacy and unacceptable form of protest. ¶4. (U) Echoing fellow Joint Opposition leader, Salome Zourabichvili (reftel),Kakha Kukava and David Gamkrelidze said on April 30 and May 1 that current tension with Russia over Abkhazia is benefiting the ruling UNM. They claimed such incidents are common prior to recent Georgian elections, and implied this could be intentional. Kukava denounced Saakashvili's attention on events in Abkhazia as a "typical pre-election public relations stunt" and said such moves were to distract the country's attention away from the May 21 election. Kukava alleged the expulsion of four Russian spies just prior to the 2006 local elections, and the Ganmukhuri incident in October 2008 (when Saakashvili visited the border and scolded Russian peacekeepers on TV for arresting Georgian policemen),served as evidence for his statements. PEC Members Attacked -------------- ¶5. (U) In Dmanisi District (Kvemo Kartli) on May 1, two opposition-appointed Precinct Election Commission (PEC) members were assaulted and wounded by the PEC Chairman and a UNM party coordinator. Reportedly, the two UNM representatives had forcibly demanded that the two commission members "support" the ruling party's majoritarian candidate. The two injured persons were taken to the hospital, and the two UNM supporters reportedly have resigned their positions in the PEC. The same day, CEC Chairman Tarkhnishvili told Emboffs that a CEC representative in the Isani District had been physically assaulted by an acting MP. Tarkhnishvili said the victim had reported election violations to the CEC. TBILISI 00000756 002 OF 002 Industrialists Threaten to Drop Out -------------- ¶6. (SBU) The opposition Industrialists party (formerly allied with the New Rightists, but now in a separate election bloc) complained of intimidation by the ruling party. On May 1, party founder and leader, Gogi Topadze, said that the party will pull out of the election race if the "authorities continue the intimidation of the party's majoritarian MP candidates." Topadze said he would consult with all his party's candidates and then make a decision. (Comment: Public support for the Industrialists of late appears to be low. Consequently, it is difficult to ascertain if Topadze's party is truly encountering intimidation, or if it is using this as a possible pretext to avoid a likely defeat at the polls. End comment.) No News, Imedi TV Resumes Broadcasting -------------- ¶7. (U) Imedi TV resumed trial broadcasts on May 5, but will not cover any news until after the election on May 21. The channel furthermore said they will not broadcast any political news shows until September. No additional public statements have been made by the company regarding its ownership since the death of former owner Badri Patarkatsishvili. Reportedly, the fight for control of the company between Patarkatsishvili's family and Joseph Kay continues. Emboffs to Tarkhnishvili: Transparency is Critical -------------- -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Pol/Econ Chief met CEC Chairman Tarkhnishvili on May 1 and asked him to maintain maximum transparency in the election process by posting PEC protocols as they are completed onto the CEC website. She also encouraged Tarkhnishvili to ensure a perception of independent and inclusive leadership in the CEC. Further, she noted the importance of equal and appropriate access to the CEC for all parties. USAID offered additional training assistance for the CEC staff, in order to further bolster public confidence in the election administration. Such training would likely include components on complaints procedures, E-Day processes, and ethics. Tarkhnishvili welcomed the offer. The Chairman assured Emboffs that nearly 2,000 PECs will be equipped with faxes for the election, and that these faxes will be used to send PEC protocols directly to the CEC, where they will be immediately posted on the CEC's website. The CEC continues to work with USAID implementing partner IFES on the tabulation and reporting plan. IFES is providing training, and material and technical assistance, to the CEC. DCM Speaks with MOF Gilauri -------------- ¶9. (SBU) On May 2, the DCM raised with Minister of Finance Nika Gilauri reports of financial police and tax inspectors improperly soliciting campaign donations for the UNM from medium to large businesses. Watchdog NGOs had claimed reports of threatening companies with audits and possible legal issues. Gilauri said he had also heard of such concerns. He said he had already put the word out against any such practices, but he needs specific information to act further. To date, the companies have been unwilling to divulge their identities, or to approach the MOF together to address the matter. Post will raise the issue with the government's Inter-Agency Task Force as well. (Comment: Notably, the NGO agrees that such reports are still fewer than during the January election. End comment.) NDI Releases Pre-Election Assessment -------------- ¶10. (U) Also on May 2, the National Democratic Institute (NDI) released findings of their pre-election assessment team (emailed to EUR/CARC). The delegation acknowledged positive steps made by the government since January. However, they noted concern about the low level of trust between political parties and in the election administration. The report points out that the government bears responsibility for a viable, trustworthy election capacity. Still, all parties -- including the opposition -- bear responsibility for their actions and discourse during the campaign period. The report presents 18 recommendations that generally focus on the responsibilities of political parties, the election administration, and the media environment. TEFFT