Mikheil Saakashvili called the upcoming presidential election, nearly a year ahead of schedule, in large part to regain the people’s trust after his administration’s disastrous decisions on November 7.

Reports of the abuse of administrative resources and pressure on the media, however, threaten to erase any gains with the public Saakashvili may be hoping to make.

Transparency International Georgia, documenting the ruling party’s campaign in the few weeks remaining until the presidential election on January 5, has reported a slew of worrisome tactics. Saakashvili’s sudden fondness for state philanthropy, offering hikes in wages, pensions and welfare with fiscally reckless abandon, is only a start.

While any help for poor Georgians is a welcome thing, voters are not fooled by fast and loose pledges for an overnight defeat of poverty. (Or, for that matter, Saakashvili’s irresponsible promise to take back South Ossetia nearly overnight if reelected.)

More concerning are reports of government agencies and businesses threatening employees to vote for Saakashvili, or risk losing their jobs. Rural authorities are telling citizens there will be cameras recording them in the voting booths. ID cards are being confiscated without reason.

And hundreds of opposition activists are being prosecuted for their participation in the November 7 demonstrations, while no cases have yet been filed against the riot police or the unidentified men in jeans and black ski masks photographed beating unarmed protestors.

Imedi TV is only now coming back on air after scrambling to repair systematically damaged broadcast equipment, and a regional radio station in Kakheti is just the latest news organization to come forward with allegations of official intimidation.

These are not encouraging signs. The current government made great strides in transforming Georgia into something resembling a strong state and a healthy democracy; it would be a terrible loss to backslide now, ahead of elections which could propel the country ahead to even greater success.