“Jondi Baghaturia: the opposition must stick together”

Rezonansi quotes Jondi Baghaturia, the leader of the opposition party Kartuli Dasi, as saying that Shalva Natelashvili, leader of the opposition Labor Party, is one of the most successful politicians in Georgia.

“We’ve always had friendly relations with Natelashvili and his party, and we hope our cooperation will continue,” Baghaturia said, adding that he planned to meet Natelashvili in the near future.

Baghaturia said the most important thing was for the opposition to stick together, and to tackle Saakashvili’s regime together.

Once part of the nine-party opposition coalition, the Labor Party split off by nominating Natelashvili as their presidential candidate rather than backing joint coalition candidate Levan Gachechiladze.



“NGOs call for Imedi TV to be put back on air”

Akhali Taoba reports that the Human Rights Protection Organization held a protest rally outside the State Chancellery on November 22. “Hands off the free mass media!”, “Release the illegally imprisoned TV channel!”, and “Restore Imedi TV and Radio Imedi at once!” were just some of their demands.

Party leader Giorgi Laghidze is calling for Imedi TV and Radio Imedi to be put back on air in advance of the early presidential elections: if this doesn’t happen, it will cast doubt on the whole democratic electoral process, he believes.

“This is a warning. We call on the government, the president, and the people of Georgia to put Imedi TV and Radio Imedi back on air. We call on all international organizations to intervene in this matter. If the situation doesn’t improve in the near future, we intend to step up our action, and will assume that the election campaign is unfair,” Laghidze said, adding that without free media, talks about democratic principles were pointless.

He said that, in shutting down Imedi TV and Radio Imedi, the government had clearly demonstrated that a free TV channel that expressed its own, objective opinion was unacceptable to it.

“This not only goes against the freedom of speech and democratic principles—it misleads the public, too,” Laghidze concluded.



“Opposition meets the President of Lithuania”

Sakartvelos Respublika reports that several members of the Georgian united opposition coalition met the Lithuanian President, Valdas Adamkus, on November 23. The Georgian delegation included Davit Usupashvili, Shalva Natelashvili, Goga Khaindrava, Manana Nachkebia, and Kakha Kukava.

During the meeting, recent developments in Georgia were discussed, including the government shutdown of Imedi TV.

“We assured the president that, following a change of government in Georgia, Georgian-Lithuanian relations would become stronger,” Davit Usupashvili said.



“Over 700 prisoners given parole”

Rezonansi reports that 772 prisoners jailed for petty crimes were freed from Georgian jails on November 23 on the orders of then-president Mikheil Saakashvili.

Those released included 21 women and 25 minors.

By the end of 2007, at least 2 000 prisoners will have been given parole.



“Gelbakhiani denies talks with Ivanishvili”

Akhali Taoba reports that Valeri Gelbakhiani, MP for Sachkhere, a district in western Georgia, denies having held talks with the Georgian business tycoon Bidzina Ivanishvili.

“Badri Patarkatsishvili and Bidzina Inavishvili may well have held talks, but I’d like to stress I had no part in them,” Gelbakhiani explained.

Gelbakhiani said he would welcome Ivanishvili’s standing for president: “If Ivanishvili decides to run for the presidency, he’ll certainly get my support,” Gelbakhiani said.

Background note: Several Russian media sources recently reported that Badri Patarkatsishvili and the united Georgian opposition coalition intended putting forward a new presidential candidate—the businessman Bidzina Ivanishvili. They also said that Patarkatsishvili was involved in negotiations with both Ivanishvili and Gelbakhiani.