caucasus newsletter

8/14/2019 Caucasus Newsletter

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It is clear that January 5th presidential

election and plebiscite was a solemnmoment for the Georgian democracy

in which the electorate of Georgia hasmade a firm decision towards EuroAtlantic integration. An analysis of performed presidential election on allthose precincts that USCA observed,allows us to state that 2008 presiden-tial election and plebiscite in Georgiawas the most competitive in the his-tory of Georgia, however with viola-tion.Mostly violations had a technicalmanner, however USCA observers

detected incomplete voter lists andfalsification of results in some pool-ing stations. We hope Central Elec-tion Commission (CEC) will fairlyact in response to all involved parties;consequently the overall performanceof the presidential elections will notbe questioned.USCA mobility groups performedobservation on Georgian election inthe following areas: Tbilisi, Kutaisi,Batumi, Sarpi, village of Peria settled

with Abkhaz population, village of Khoni were eco-migrants reside, vil-lage of Ianeti were repatriated Muslim Mesks live and in those communityplaces of Tskaltubo were IDP’s re-side. It has to be underlined thatAbkhaz population in Peria , Achara’sregion is as integrated in the Georgiansociety as the rest citizens of Georgia.This in fact raises question of thevalidity of calling conflict in Abkhaziaa so-called “ethno-conflict” . Also,

internally displaced persons, repatri-ated Meskhets and eco-migrants hadan equal opportunity to express their

free will during the election and plebi-scite.USCA Democracy Project had 13locally trained professional observers,accredited by CEC and supervised bythe team of international experts from

USCA: Shota Mkheidze (Chairmanof USCA), Mike Hancock, (Directorof USCA) and Dr. Theodore Stumm (Director of USCA) supervisedUSCA mission. Prior to election,USCA observers underwent throughintensive groundwork. They met withCEC and party officials as well aswith electorate to receive importantinformation on the issues that couldundermine fairness of election. Theproject was sponsored by USCA and

local contributions.While commending efforts of CECcommitting towards free and trans-parent election, USCA recognize le-gitimacy of the disagreements betweencompeting parties. USCA declares itsreadiness to mitigate all disputes andurges all parties peacefully resolvethose disagreements.As a neutral party, USCA expressesits readiness to collaborate with allaccredited international observers andmass media and participate in discus-sions between opposed sides and pre-sent all facts of violations that USCAobservers detected. USCA believesthat peaceful resolution of all existingdisagreements will positively affect inperforming of fair and democraticparliamentary elections and will guar-antee peaceful future of Georgia.

Sincerely,

Shota MkheidzeFounder and Chairman of USCA

LETTER FROM CHAIRMAN'S DESK

Inside this issue:

Election Day 2

Facts of Violations 2

Compactly Settled

Abkhazians in Achara

Region

3

Muslim Meskhs during

Election and Plebiscite3

The Geopolitical Role of

Caucasus and Essential

Interests of Georgia

4

Ocean Distance does not Divides us But Unites!

4

Memorandum 4

Artifacts of FalsifiedProtocols

3

Letter from Chairman’s

Desk

1

February, 2008 Issue 1

United States and Caucasus Association for Democracy and Peace

SELECTED NEW S FROM CAUCASUS

-Voices from Free Nations-

Special points of inter-

est:

♦ West never asked to change

attributes of national identity

but to use them wisely

♦ New Georgian government

should consider steps towards regaining foot in Rus-

sian market

♦ Will NATO help to restore

peace in Caucasus

♦ How will West regulate

tensions over dividing Cas-

pian wealth

♦ Stability of Caucasus what

will be the next step? - Their

Commonwealth

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND PLEBISCITE IN GERGIA (Special Release)

“Through forming most competitive election in her history, Georgian people madehistorical step toward West” - Mike Hancock, Acting President



1. # of total voters in the united list 575

2. # of voters in the special list 11

3. # of voters in the additional list 20

4. # of voters moved to other precinct’s special list 1

5. # of total voters 605

6. # of signatures of voters in all sorts of lists:

a) by 12:00 p.m. 93

b) by 17:00 p.m. 279

7. # of voters participated in voting 298

8. # of received ballots 588

9. # of unused ballots 288

10. # of out of order ballots 2

Number of Votes:

Levan Gachechiladze 90

Arkadi Patarkatsishvili 89

David Gamkrelidze 6

Shalva Natelashvili 25Mikheil Saakashvili 52

Giorgi Maisashvili 0

Irina Sarishvili – Cahanturia 0

11. # of real ballots 262

12. # of void ballots 16

13. # of different envelopes sent to CEC 0

ELECTION DAY

Results in Original Version of Protocol

observers discovered that several peo-

ple were are not in registered list but

yet were allowed to vote.

Number of voters wore dress depicting

attributes of their candidates. Also

busses that were transporting votershad attributes of one of the presidential

candidate (#23 pooling station of #54

regional district).

Out of 25 pooling stations in #59 re-

gional district that USCA observed, in

9 of them, members of police units

presented at inside the pooling station.

Some pooling stations were opened

late, some were small and ill-prepared.

In several places election commissions

were highly disorganized, and had

imprecise lists of voters, creating jam

and dissatisfaction.

FACT OF VALIOTIONS

USCA observers detected serious viola-

tions in Achara region. Particularly in #83

Khelvachauri Election District, #20 Pool-

ing Station “Mnatobi”. Numbers in original

protocol that USCA observing group re-

ceived from the local election commission

did not match to the copy of the outcome

presented on the Central Election Com-

mission (CEC) website (see printed fig-

ures and photocopies below).There were also other violations detected

that had minor character. On #14 pooling

station of the #59 regional district USCA

The January 5th, 2008 was an impor-

tant day in the history of Georgia be-

cause of the early presidential election.

Seven candidates took part. Each of them presented country development

program to the population. PR cam-

paign was not long. Georgians had to

make the right choice.

More then 1500 organizations observed

the election. Among them were interna-

tional and local NGOs, diplomatic mis-

sions, Embassies and others.

Almost all pooling stations in the re-

gions of Georgia were observed by the

local non-governmental organizations“New Generation - New Initiative” and

ISFED. International observers were

mainly patrolling stations time by timenot spending the whole time at one

place.

Some incidents were found out by inter-

national and local observers during the

election. Local observers from theGeorgian Young Lowers Association

(GYLA) protested them at each time. In

order to make incidents open for public,

GYLA made several press-briefingsaddressing to the Central Election Com-

mission (CEC). Other organization didthe same. Opposition parties were pro-

testing because of negligence and falsifi-

cation of ballots. Several opposition par-

ties, especially United Opposition Party’s

leaders intended to terminate the head of

the CEC L. Tarkhnishvili’s employment.

Even today opposition parties claim that

the election was unfair and totally facili-

tated. Around 52 cases were brought in

the court.

Finally, after 2 weeks struggle interna-

tional and local observers conclude that

January 5th presidential election and

plebiscite was the most competitive in

the history of Georgia.

P AGE 2SELECTED NEWS FROM CAUCASUS

1. # of total voters in the united list 575

2. # of voters in the special list 11

3. # of voters in the additional list 20

4. # of voters moved to other precinct’s special list 1

5. # of total voters 605

6. # of signatures of total voters in all sorts of lists:

a) by 12:00 p.m. 93

b) by 17:00 p.m 389

7. # of voters participated in voting 550

8. # of received ballots 600

9. # of unused ballots 50

10. # of out of order ballots 0

Number of Votes:

Levan Gachechiladze 90

Arkadi Patarkatsishvili 89

David Gamkrelidze 6

Shalva Natelashvili 25Mikheil Saakashvili 340

Giorgi Maisashvili 0

Irina Sarishvili – Cahanturia 0

11. # of real ballots 550

12. # of void ballots 0

13. # of different envelopes sent to CEC 20

In her hundred years, Mrs. Marry resists

to be helped while voting. She believes in

democracy saying “Free and fair elec-

tion is essential for every European

nation”.

Results Posted by CEC on their Website



- Whether it is was done intentionally or is the result of a crime, will be judged by competent organs. One thing is

undisputable: such violations shows that sustainability of democracy is week. That is characterized for newly independent

former Soviet nations...We hope struggling for democracy and freedom in Georgia will continue in peaceful ways!-

ARTIFACTS OF FALSIFIED PROTOCOLS

USCA’s one of the international observ-

ers’ mobile groups (Irakli Silagadze,

Roman Giorgobiani, Natalia Chubabria)

monitored Achara’s region small com-

munity Pheria which is settled with

Abkhazians.

They were settled in Achara territory in

the period of Muhajiroba by the late 19th

c. They were prosecuted on behalf of

their Muslim religious and were forcedto leave their families and seek shelters.

Here are some fragments from the inter-

view given from Abkhazian voters. To

the question of Irakli Silagadze, the head

of the mobile group, if there were any

pressure when making their decision

during the election, the respondents Ten-

giz Mukhajba and Ruslan Khokhba an-

swer that no force were applied against

them.

Also to the question if they took part in

the election themselves as other citizens

or felt lack of attention in comparison

with locals, their only answer was that

they expressed their will freely without

any sign of rejection. In addition they

mentioned that since they have moved in

Achara the made friendly relationshipswith Georgians and hope this tradition

will be preserved by their generations.

At the end of the observation mission in

Achara USCA mobile group have made

conclusion that Abkhaz and Georgian

population living in a small village Phe-

ria have warm and kind neighborhood.

That resulted fair and objective election

at the pooling station #20. Abkhaz peo-

ple consider themselves as inseparable

part of Georgian people who are inte-

grated with Georgian citizens.

COMPACTLY SETTLED

ABKHAZIANS IN ACHARA REGION

Although Mrs.Nina Mukhajba freely makes

her choice; She does not favor NATO

MUSLIM MESKHS DURING ELECTION

AND PLEBISCITE

Repatriated Muslim Meskh’s that live in

Ianeti region (West Georgia) were exiled

from Georgia in 1944 by Soviet Empire.

USCA observers (Keti Svanidze, Paata

Gulua, Natalya Chubabria) observed

election and plebiscite in Ianeti pooling

station #23. Their aim was to observe

how objective and transparent was the

election procedures.

The OSCE observers, Russian and

Lithuanian groups also observed the

above mentioned pooling station. Be-

sides international observers, policemen

were inside the station. That made some

people angry as the law prohibits police-

men to be inside the station.

Around 13:00 p.m. the repatriated

Meskhs were taken by bus to the pooling

station. After they made their choice, theobservation group had interviewed some

of them (Mirza Mamisashvili, Malkhaz

Ayubov). Interviews showed that repa-

triated Meskhs had not experienced any

problems while voting.




On December 18th, 2007 United States

and Caucasus Association signed theMemorandum of Understanding dedicated

on the implementation of the newly

launched Caucasus Newsletter Project

(CNL). The project is aiming to:

• Develop and publish objective eco-

nomic and political information on

Caucasus regions;

• Promote media coverage in the

United States of the challenges of

former Soviet Union countries in the

Caucasus region and beyond;

• Expand intercultural relationships

between Georgian and American stu-

dents.

•

UNIVERSITY CONTRIBUTION:

• Assist in selecting volunteer students;

• Provide conference area and facilities

for meetings;

• Publish newsletter at the university

Publishing House on timely manner;

• Provide expert-consultants for stu-

dents writing newsletter articles;

• Provide recommendations and consul-

tation by experts.

THEGEOPOLITICAL ROLE OFCAUCASUS&

ESSENTIAL INTERESTS OFGEORGIA

Pliny the Great: “The Caucasus divides the

universe into two parts”

Georgia wants to find a golden middle

between pseudo liberal and funda-

mentalist approaches... While being in

search of this golden middle, Georgian

people already made their first step on

January 5, 2008 in favor of Euro Atlantic

Alliance. In order to reinforce this step it

is important to:

•Raise feeling of fairness and security

among people;

•Promote civic groups, orienting on

democratic and national values;

•Promote establishment of western

standards in science and education,

while maintaining concentration

towards traditional and cultural values.

- Prof. Tariel Putkaradze

Hello from far Georgia (Sakartvelo)!

We hope you have heard about us!

We are Teona Alavidze, Natalia Chu-

babria, Roman Giorgobiani, KhatiaJangavadze, Keti Svanidze, Nino Sal-

dadze, Ann Ushveridze and Mari Veru-

lashvili. We are interns and write short

articles on political and economic news

for Caucasus News Letter (CNL). The

CNL is the first program of the USCA

aiming at providing objective political

and economic information about Cauca-

sus region, also strengthening cultural

and educational relationship between

US and Georgia.

In spite of our age, education or charac-

teristics we have one common interest:

to make our contribution in building

democracy and peace in the region of

Caucasus.

Georgia is a country with antique civili-

zation, rich history and culture. We

want oversee students to know more

about our country. We also aim at in-

troducing Caucasus regions to US stu-

dents and other interested people. We

hope you will also find interesting to

contact with us and have friendly rela-

tionships with Georgian students. We

think that will assist us in making right

decision in future carriers. We need our

knowledge to use for making better

world.

We are ready to provide objective and

interesting news on Caucasus regions

for US students, lecturers or profession-

als. We are welcome to partnership op-

portunities.


CAUCASUS Mountain range

Division from EUROPE to ASIA

OCEAN DOES NOT DEVIDES US, BUT

UNITES!

Selected News form CAUCASUS is designed by the Caucasus News Letter Project (CNL) at the Georgian branch of the

United States and Caucasus Association for Democracy and Peace (USCA). USCA is an American independent, nonpartisan

nonprofit 501 (c) (3) corporation, dedicated to strengthening the relationship between the United States and Georgia, and

to promoting democracy, peace and economic development in the Caucasus region.

Reporting news is a privilege and great responsibility that must not be exploited but to be held to the highest standards.

CNL intents to present unvarnished news about Caucasus region to the world, because it is a vital key for Caucasus to con-

tinue exist in peace while maintaining its cultural uniqueness.

CNL Editorial Board: Shota Mkheidze - Author and Director; Tariel Putkaradze - Consultant, Khatuna Javakhadze, - Man-

ager and Editor in Chief; Irakli Silagadze - Editorial Board Member; Interns who developed articles: Teona Alavidze, Nata-

lya Chubabria, Roman Giorgobiani, Khatia Jangavadze, Keti Svanidze, Nino Saldadze, Ana Ushveridze. English translations

were provided by: Nino Saldadze, Teona Alavidze and Ana Ushveridze;

Special thanks to Ms. Manana Tkabladze, Kutaisi Akaki Tsereteli University lecturer for editing assistance.

www.uscadp.org

Finally, we want to express our team

readiness for future collaboration.

Please, send us your ideas and

opinions.

Phone: 904-237-5118; Fax: 904-358-3095E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]

MEMORANDUM

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