Georgians Vote in Local Elections
Eurasianet covers Georgia’s local elections in the aftermath of the Russian Spy Scandal that has seen Moscow “punish” Tbilisi by closing the border between the two countries and persecute Georgian citizens in the country. Ironically, and to add to the damage that the blockade might cause Armenia, some of those citizens might be ethnic Armenians from Georgia’s Samtskhe-Javakheti region.
Voters cast ballots for local government officials throughout Georgia on October 5, following an appeal from Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili for a show of “unity” against harsh Russian sanctions.
[…]
Georgians’ sense of optimism will be put to the test in the coming months, as Russia is employing all means at its disposal to inflict economic pain on Tbilisi. Moscow’s latest move was to announce on October 5 that quotas for residency or work permits for Georgian citizens would be suspended.
Speaking to journalists in televised remarks on October 5, Russian Federal Migration Service (FMS) Deputy Director Mikhail Tyurkin said that after “carefully” examining Russia’s labor market, the FMS had determined that there is no further need for Georgians to receive residency or work permits. Tyurkin added that although many Georgians claim to be in Russia for work or study programs, they are actually “criminals.” In separate remarks, spokesperson Denis Soldatikov put the number of such individuals at “one out of every 100″ Georgians, Russian media outlets reported.
The FMS has reportedly created a special department to track Georgians living in the country. Talks are also underway between Moscow and the Belarussian government about suspending visa-free travel for Georgian citizens from Belarus to Russia.
[…]
According to the Central Election Commission, turnout in Tbilisi stood at 28.81 percent as of 5 pm local time. No reports were available from outside the capital. Polls were scheduled to remain open until 8 pm local time. Official results from the election were not expected to be released until October 6.
In Tbilisi, many voters maintained that the spy scandal didn’t influenced their vote. “[The crisis with Russia] did not make a difference to me. Why should it?” commented pensioner Mamuka Khukhia after casting his ballot for the ruling National Movement Party at a polling station in downtown Tbilisi. “We are a proud people and we have our opinion and that is how we are going to live.”
The election has been promoted as a test of the Saakashvili government’s commitment to democracy. While election officials reported a relatively smooth process with minor hitches, some local observers and opposition members charged that irregularities with voter lists, among other issues, were widespread.
The full news item is here, and Civil Georgia will no doubt have constant updates over the next day or two.
Comment by Onnik — October 6, 2006 @ 2:07 am
Maybe not the proper place to address this issue but why doesn’t Georgia back down on this standoff with Russia? I mean, what is Saakashvilli trying to prove, that Georgia can shake down the Russian spy network that supposedly is infiltrating the country? Russia is insisting as far as I know that the accused are innocent, and Georgia continues to antagonize despite strenghtned economic trade blockades imposed by Russia along Georgian borders that will eventually devastate the economy of Armenia. What are these two countries thinking? What is to gain in all of this, especially by Georgia? Doesn’t make much sense.
Comment by Christian — October 6, 2006 @ 12:02 pm
As a matter of interest how can Georgia back down? It’s handed over the alleged spies and made a compromise in terms of allowing Russian monitors in Kodori Gorge. In fact, Russia imposed sanctions and started to persecute Georgian citizens in Russia after Georgia backed off under international pressure to do so. What else can it do?
BTW: I’ve yet to see any statements from Russia saying the four officers were not spies. Instead, Putin just keeps on going on about how he doesn’t like the way Georgians acted. Anyway, Saakashvili did behave like a hothead and inappropiately (again), but what Putin is doing is really way over the top and not least because it will affect Armenia.
Comment by Onnik — October 6, 2006 @ 12:29 pm
Comment by Onnik — October 6, 2006 @ 2:51 pm
I have no right to citicize Saakashvili but I am a little bewildered by the cowboy dyplomacy that his government sometimes engages in. So far they have pissed off the Abkhaz, Ossets and the Russians themselves. He seems like the Georgian version of our Dashnaktsakans.
I can’t understand his threats to re-integrate South Ossetia or Abkhazia by force. For Christ’s sakes, these two republics broke away from Georgia because of similar hot-headed and stupid policies of Zviad Gamsakhurdia. I understand that he needs to have a stick in his arsenal but the only way he may have a chance of getting the Abkhaz and ossets back in Georgia is through carrots, not sticks (which won’t happen anyway).
It’s like the stupidity of the Aliyev approach to NKR - threats won’t resolve anything.
Pissing the Russians off on top of this is reckless. Uncle Sam is not a reliable protector. Let’s hope Georgia doesn’t suffer too much.
Comment by nazarian — October 6, 2006 @ 7:15 pm
I never got round to writing up my impressions of Tbilisi, but when I did mention that I might I said I was generally impressed with one reservation. As you’ve raised the point yourself I might as well write it here as a comment rather than as a post. That is, I find it regrettable and actually rather disappointing that Georgian society seems to favor resolution of its territorial problems by force.
Actually, this is at odds with other aspects of Georgia’s foreign policy and specifically integration with Europe. In fact, I was very upset to hear talk of the need for military action from even otherwise “progressive” and educated 19 year olds. Certainly, Europe must keep an eye on this. First of all, and most importantly, people must want to be citizens of Georgia which means that their problems and needs should be addressed by the State.
Incidently, the same mood appears to prevail among those educated Georgians I spoke to as it did last time I was in Tbilisi in September or October last year. That is, Saakashvili was not the right choice for President after the Rose Revolution. He is too hot-headed and unpredictable. He is also considered too populist. They also think he’s crazy, and interestingly enough, while most Georgians I spoke to still seem to be behind the ideals of the Rose Revolution, all believed that Saakashvili was behind Zhvania’s death.
The other really disappointing thing about Tbilisi was that damn President George Bush Avenue. Stupid and nauseating.
Comment by Onnik — October 6, 2006 @ 7:24 pm
Observers Hail Elections, but Note Shortcomings
/ Civil Georgia, Tbilisi / 2006-10-06 16:30:07
Municipal elections in Georgia were conducted with general respect for fundamental freedoms; however, the blurred distinction between the ruling authorities and the leading party reinforced the advantage of the incumbents, a preliminary conclusion of international observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe says.
“We appreciate the efforts of the authorities to conduct the process in a professional and inclusive manner and welcome the readiness of Georgia to continue international co-operation on bringing further improvements to the electoral practice to fully meet all OSCE and other international commitments,” Ambassador Geert Ahrens, headed of the Limited Election Observation Mission from the OSCE/ODIHR, said on October 6.
“We have observed significant progress in the conduct of voting,” Wim van Gelder, Head of Delegation of the Congress said.
But he also said that preliminary turnout figures show that “progress is still to be made to ensure broader participation of citizens and political forces in local affairs.”
The preliminary conclusion also says that “despite commendable efforts undertaken by the authorities to improve the accuracy of the voters’ lists, a number of voters did not find their names on the register.”
A final report by the ODIHR will be issued after two months after the completion of the entire election process.
http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=13806
Comment by Onnik — October 6, 2006 @ 7:32 pm
I could simpathize with Georgians in their standoff with Russians if they could implement more intelligent policies regarding their own minorities. But it is funny they ask for a merci from larger neighbore when they do not have any merci for their own citizens.
If azeries can hardly find arguments to convince Kharabakh armenians that they will be better off in Azerbaijan than in Armenia, I think Georgians might do exactly that for Ossetians and Abkhasians. If they were a little bit modest in their ambitions and considerate.
Comment by Gagik — October 7, 2006 @ 2:32 am