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ACTION EUR-Ol

INFO LOG-OOADS-OO CIAE-OO DODE-OO HA-09 H-01 INRE-OO

INE.-05
L-03 NSAE-OO NSCE-OO OMB-01 PA-01 PM-01
PRoS-01
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o 0217532 NOV 90
FM AMEMB~SY MOSCOW
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3429
INFO RUEELN/AMCONSUL LENINGRAD
MOSCOW POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

CON F ~ DEN T I A L SECTION 01 OF 06 MOSCOW 38692

E.O. 12356: DECL:OADR

TAGS: PGOV, PINR, UR
SUBJECT: GEORGIAN ELECTIONS - OPPOSITION ROUND TABLE
DEFEATS COMMUNISTS

REF: A) MOSCOW 22671 B) MOSCOW 22838

SUMMARY
/------
1. (LOU) BASED UPON PRELIMINARY RESULTS, THE
NATIONALIST OPPOSITION BLOC "ROUND TABLE," LED BY
ZVIAD GAMSAKHURDIA, WON AN UPSET VICTORY OVER THE
COMMUNIST PARTY AND ITS OPPOSITION RIVALS, GAINING
60-70 PERCENT OF THE POPULAR VOTE IN THE OCTOBER 28
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GEORGIAN SUPREME SOVIET ELECTIONS. THE COMMUNIST
PARTY FINISHED A DISTANT SECOND WITH APPROXIMATELY 20
PERCENT OF THE VOTE, AND NO OTHER PARTIES APPEARED TO
HAVE REACHED THE 4 PERCENT THRESHOLD NEEDED TO GAIN
PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION SEATS IN THE GEORGIAN
PARLIAMENT. WITH SOME EXCEPTIONS, THE FIRST
MULTIPARTY ELECTION IN 72 YEARS APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN
CONDUCTED WITH A REMARKABLE DEGREE OF FAIR'ESS. THE
ROUND TABLE WILL CLEARLY BE THE LEADING FORCE IN THE
NEW REPUBLIC GOVERNMENT. ITS PLATFORM, LIKE THOSE OF

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE

REVIEW AUTHORITY: ROBERT 0 HOMME UNCLASSIFIED
DATE/CASE ID: 24 SEP 2009 200802196
VIRTUALLY ALL OTHER PARTIES PARTICIPATING IN THE UNCLASSIFIED
ELECTION, ADVOCATES INDEPENDENCE FROM MOSCOW, BUT THE
FUTURE AND SUBSTANCE OF THAT CLAIM TO INDEPENDENCE
REMAIN TO BE DETERMINED.

2. (LOU) THIS IS THE FIRST OF TWO CABLES BY EMBOFFS

WHO TRAVELLED TO GEORGIA FOR THE OCTOBER 28
ELECTIONS. IT IS BASED ON OBSERVATIONS BY EMBOFFS
AND OTHER AMERICAN AMD INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS
INVITED TO THE REPUBLIC BY THE GEORGIAN CENTRAL
ELECTORAL COMMISSION, AND EVALUATES THE RESULTS AND
IMPLICATIONS OF THE ELECTION. THE SECOND CABLE WILL
FOCUS ON THE MECHANICS OF THE ELECTORAL PROCESS,
PARTICULARLY ON THE ELECTORAL LAW AND ITS
IMPLEMENTATION ON ELECTION DAY. END SUMMARY.

ROUND TABLE VICTORY CERTAIN

/------------~-------------

3. (LOU) ALTHOUGH THE OFFICIAL RESULTS OF THE

OCTOBER 28 GEORGIAN SUPREME SOVIET ELECTIONS ARE NOT
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PAGE 03 MOSCOW 38692 01 OF 06 021808Z

YET AVAILABLE, THE PRELIMINARY COUNT, ACCORDING TO
THE GEORGIAN CENTRAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION, SHOWS THAT
THE "ROUND TABLE-FREE GEORGIA" BLOCK, LED BY ZVIAD
GAMSAKHURDIA, WON A SWEEPING 60-70 PERCENT OF THE
POPULAR VOTE. THE COMMUNIST PARTY RECEIVED ABOUT 20
PERCENT OF THE VOTE, AND NO OTHER PARTY OR ELECTORAL
BLOC RECEIVED THE REQUIRED FOUR PERCENT POPULAR VOTE
TO GAIN 'A SEAT. UNDER THE TWO-PART GEORGIAN
ELECTORAL SYSTEM, (DISCUSSED SEPTEL) THIS MEANS THAT
ROUND TABLE COULD CONTROL OVER 80 PERCENT OF THE 250
SEATS IN THE NEW PARLIAMENT. GAMSAKHURDIA WILL ALSO
NAME THE NEW COUNCIL OF MINISTERS AND OTHER REPUBLIC
OFFICIALS WHO WILL DETERMINE GEORGIA'S ECONOMIC
FUTURE AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO THE CENTER.

GEORGIAN PARTIES: YOU NEED A SCORECARD

/--------------------------------------
4. (LOU) APPROXIMATELY 25 POLITICAL PARTIES AND
MOVEMENTS MANAGED TO GATHER THE 400 SIGNATURES NEEDED
TO REGISTER WITH THE CENTRAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION AND
APPEAR ON THE BALLOT. IN ORDER TO INCREASE THEIR
POLITICAL POTENCY, SEVERAL OF THESE PARTIES JOINED

lJNCL.ASSIFIED
TOGETHER TO FORM COALITIONS WHICH APPEARED ON THE UNCLASSIFIED
"PROPORTIONAL BALLOT" AS BLOCS. SEVERAL PARTIES,
SUCH AS THE STALINIST PARTY, WERE NOT ALLOWED ON THE
BALLOT BECAUSE THEIR PLATFORMS WERE JUDGED BY THE
SUPREME COURT OF GEORGIA TO VIOLATE THE GEORGIAN
REPUBLIC CONSTITUTION, OR BECAUSE THEY FAILED TO
SUPPORT THE TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF GEORGIA.

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5. (U) THE BLOCS AND PARTIES WHICH DID APPEAR ON THE
BALLOT WERE:

-- THE "FREEDOM" BLOC, INCLUDING THE REPUBLICAN

FEDERAL PARTY, THE DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS FOR GEORGIA
PARTY, THE LIBERAL-DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL PARTY OF
GEORGIA, THE ASSOCIATION OF NATIONAL ACCORD OF
GEORGIA, AND THE CHRISTIAN-DEMOCRATIC UNION OF
GEORGIA;

-- THE SOCIAL-DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF GEORGIA;

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INFO LOG-OO ADS-OO ClAE-OO DODE-OO HA-09 H-01 INRE-OO

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UNCLASSIFIED
FM AMEMB.ASSY MOSCOW UNCLASSIFIED
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3430
INFO RUEHLN/AMCONSUL LENINGRAD
MOSCOW POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

CON F ~ DEN T I A L SECTION 02 OF 06 MOSCOW 38692

E.O. 12356: DECL:OADR

TAGS: PGOV, PINR, UR
SUBJECT: GEORGIAN ELECTIONS - OPPOSITION ROUND TABLE

THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF GEORGIA;

THE "ACCORD, PEACE AND REVIVAL" BLOC WHICH

INCLUDES THE UNION OF NATIONAL ACCORD AND REVIVAL OF
GEORGIA, AND THE ALL-GEORGIAN PARTY OF PEACE AND
FREEDOM;

THE POPULAR PARTY OF GEORGIA;

THE ALL-GEORGIAN RUSTAVELI SOCIETY;

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THE ALL-GEORGIAN UNION OF AGRICULTURAL WORKERS;

THE "LIBERATION AND ECONOMIC REVIVAL" BLOC

INCLUDING THE CONSTITUTIONAL-DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF
GEORGIA, THE PROGRESSIVE-DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF GEORGIA,
AND THE GEORGIAN LABOR PARTY;

-- THE "ROUND-TABLE-FREE-GEORGIA" BLOC, INCLUDING THE

HELSINKI UNION OF GEORGIA, THE ALL-GEORGIAN SOCIETY
OF SAINT ILYA THE RIGHTEOUS, THE ALL-UNION MERAB
KOSTAVA SOCIETY, THE UNION OF GEORGIAN
TRADITIONALISTS, THE GEORGIAN NATIONAL FRONT-RADICAL
UNION, THE NATIONAL LIBERAL UNION OF GEORGIA, AND THE
NATIONAL-CHRISTIAN PARTY OF GEORGIA;

THE PEOPLE'S FRONT OF GEORGIA; AMD

THE "DEMOCRATIC GEORGIA" BLOC, INCLUDING THE ILYA

CHAVCHAVADZE SOCIETY, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF
GEORGIA, THE UNION OF FREE DEMOCRATS OF GEORGIA, THE

UNCLASSIFIED
IVAN DZH~VAKHASHVILI SOCIETY, THE ARCHIL DZHORDZHADZE UNCLASSIFIED
SOCIETY, THE DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S FRONT OF GEORGIA,
AND THE ~ATIONAL PARTY OF THE ETHNOGRAPHIC SOCIETY OF
GEORGIA.

THE PLAT:FORMS: INDEPENDENCE IS KEY

/----------------------------------
6. (LOU) THE CENTRAL ELEMENT IN THE PROGRAMS AND
PLATFORMS OF ALL THE PARTIES PARTICIPATING IN THE
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ELECTIONS WAS A CALL FOR GEORGIAN INDEPENDENCE AND
ECONOMIC, POLITICAL AND SOCIAL RENEWAL. EVEN THE
COMMUNIS~ PARTY PLATFORM ADVOCATED INDEPENDENCE FOR
GEORGIA AND SUPPORTED THE SUPREME SOVIET RESOLUTION
DECLARING THE 1922 GEORGIAN ENTRY INTO THE SOVIET
UNION "I:LLEGAL." INDEED, AS TENGIZ SEGUA, DEPUTY
CHAIRMAN OF THE CENTRAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION, POINTED
OUT, "ALL THE POLITICAL PARTIES PARTICIPATING IN THE
ELECTION ARE FOR GEORGIAN INDEPENDENCE, BUT THIS
INDEPENDENCE IS UNDERSTOOD IN DIFFERENT WAYS BY
DIFFEREN~ GROUPS."

7. (LOU) THE MAIN DISTINCTION AMONG THE OPPOSITION

GROUPS WAS THEIR LEADERSHIP, AND THE MEANS THEY
ADVOCATED TO ACHIEVE INDEPENDENCE. THE TWO MOST
PROMINENT TO EMERGE IN THE WEEKS PRIOR TO THE
ELECTION WERE THE "ROUND TABLE-FREE GEORGIA" BLOC,
LED BY ZVIAD GAMSAKHURDIA, A WELL KNOWN DISSIDENT AND
SON OF ONE OF GEORGIA'S MOST POPULAR WRITERS, AND THE
NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY, LED BY GEORGI CHANTURIA, A
JOURNAL I ST. GAMSAKHURDIA' S BLOC ADVOCATED
INDEPENDENCE FROM MOSCOW, MAINTAINING GEORGIAN
TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY IN THE FACE OF MINORITY GROUP
DEMANDS FOR AUTONOMY OR UNION WITH THE RSFSR. IT
BLAMED BOTH MOSCOW AND THE COMMUNIST PARTY FOR THE
REPUBLIC'S ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL WOES. WHILE
ADVOCATING INDEPENDENCE AND AN END TO COMMUNIST PARTY
RULE, CH~TURIA AND THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY
DISTINGUISHED THEMSELVES BY REFUSING TO PARTICIPATE
IN ANY OFFICIAL ELECTIONS AS LONG AS SOVIET TROOPS
REMAINED ON GEORGIAN SOIL, AND BY ORGANIZING AN
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 CONFIDENTIALUNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 04 MOSCOW 38692 02 OF 06 021808Z
ALTERNATIVE ELECTION ON SEPTEMBER 30. (DISCUSSED
BELOW)

THE COMMUNIST PLATFORM: "STABILITY, ETHNIC HARMONY"

/--------------------------------------------------
8. (LOU) THE COMMUNIST PARTY PLATFORM ALSO CALLED
FOR "REESTABLISHMENT OF FULL GOVERNMENTAL
INDEPENDENCE FOR GEORGIA THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT AND
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE APPROPRIATE CONSTITUTIONAL
MEANS." IT EMPHASIZED THAT THE PARTY HAD RESOLUTELY

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INFO LOG-OO ADS-OO ClAE-OO DODE-OO HA-09 H-01 INRE-OO

INR-05 L-03 NSAE-OO NSCE-OO OMB-01 PA-01 PM-01
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o 021753Z NOV 90
FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3431
INFO RUEHLN/AMCONSUL LENINGRAD
MOSCOW POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

CON F IDE N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 06 MOSCOW 38692

E.O. 12356: DECL:OADR

TAGS: PGOV, PINR, UR
SUBJECT: GEORGIAN ELECTIONS - OPPOSITION ROUND TABLE

UNCLASSIFIED
 UNCLASSIFIED
FREED ITSELF FROM THE "MISTAKES AND TRAGEDIES OF THE
PAST." ::IN AN INTERVIEW PUBLISHED IN THE RUSSIAN
LANGUAGE EVENING PAPER "VERCHERNIY TBILISI" ON
OCTOBER 26, REPUBLIC COMMUNIST PARTY FIRST SECRETARY
AND SUPREME SOVIET CHAIRMAN GIVI GUMBARIDZE SAID THAT
THE COMMUNIST PARTY WAS THE FORCE FOR "POLITICAL
STABILIT"Y, NATIONAL HARMONY AND CIVIL PEACE" A
THEME THAT WAS ECHOED BY SEVERAL FREE-LANCE DRIVERS
THAT EMBOFFS ENCOUNTERED.

WHERE' S GIVI?
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/------------
9. (LOU) NEVERTHELESS, WHILE HIS RIVALS WERE OUT
CAMPAIGNING AND SEEKING MEDIA ATTENTION, GIVI
GUMBARIDZE MAINTAINED A LOW PROFILE. NEITHER HE NOR
OTHER RANKING COMMUNIST PARTY OFFICIALS MET WITH
EMBOFFS, JOURNALISTS OR OBSERVERS IN THE DAYS LEADING
UP TO THE ELECTION, AND NO COMMUNIST PARTY
REPRESENTATIVE SHOWED UP AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE
ORGANIZED BY THE CENTRAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION,
ALTHOUGH THE COMMISSION VICE-CHAIRMAN PUBLICLY NOTED
THAT THEY HAD BEEN INVITED. EVEN THE INTERVIEW IN
"VECHERNIY TBILISI" CITED ABOVE WAS BASED ON WRITTEN
QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY THE PAPER.
10. (C) ONE INDICATION THAT THE COMMUNISTS WERE NOT
WHOLLY UNAWARE THAT ALL WAS NOT WELL AT HOME WAS
GUMBARIDZE'S DECISION TO RUN IN THE KHELVACHAURI
DISTRICT, A CONSERVATIVE COMMUNIST PARTY STRONGHOLD
IN THE ADZHARA REGION NEAR THE TURKISH BORDER.
EMBOFF WHO VISITED KHELVACHAURI WITH SOME OF THE
INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS FOUND THE SCENE REMINISCENT
OF THE BROOKLYN DEMOCRATIC PARTY MACHINE IN THE
HEYDAY OF ABE STARK, WITH COMMUNIST PARTY ACTIVISTS
DOMINATING THE PICTURE. GUMBARIDZE REPORTEDLY
VISITED THE DISTRICT ABOUT TEN DAYS PRIOR TO THE
ELECTION AND MET WITH LOCAL PARTY OFFICIALS. EVEN
HERE, ACCORDING TO ONE OPPOSITION PARTY MEMBER,
GUMBARIDZE OFFENDED A NUMBER OF VOTERS BY FAILING TO
TURN UP AT A MEETING ORGANIZED BY A MEMBER OF THE
OPPOSITION TO GIVE CITIZENS A CHANCE TO MEET THE
CANDIDATES.
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11. (C) ONE POSSIBLE REASON FOR THE PARTY'S LOW

PROFILE MAY HAVE BEEN DIFFERENCES WITHIN THE PARTY
RANKS: A NUMBER OF COMMUNIST CANDIDATES PARTICIPATED
IN THE UNOFFICIAL ELECTIONS HELD ON SEPTEMBER 30 (SEE
BELOW). GEORGIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER GORDELADZE
CONFIRMED THAT SOME PARTY MEMBERS FAVORED SETTING UP
AN INDEPENDENT GEORGIAN COMMUNIST PARTY THAT WOULD
NOT BE SUBORDINATE TO MOSCOW, BUT RATHER SIMILAR TO
THE BRAZAUSKAS-LED PARTY IN LITHUANIA. HE SUGGESTED
THAT THIS QUESTION WOULD BE DISCUSSED AT THE UPCOMING
COMMUNIST PARTY CONFERENCE IN JANUARY. WHETHER THE
COMMUNIST PARTY'S LOW PROFILE AND POOR SHOWING WAS
THE RESULT OF OVERCONFIDENCE -- A TASS REPORT SHORTLY
BEFORE THE ELECTIONS PREDICTED A COMMUNIST VICTORY IN
GEORGIA -- OR FATALISM, EVEN THE GEORGIAN DEPUTY
FOREIGN MINISTER ADMITTED THAT THE PARTY MADE A
MISTAKE IN NOT TAKING A MORE ACTIVE AND VISIBLE ROLE
BEFORE THE ELECTIONS.

ELECTION GLASNOST'
/-----------------
12. (LOU) PREPARATIONS FOR THE ELECTIONS REFLECTED
THE SERIOUSNESS WITH WHICH THE GOVERNMENT, OPPOSITION
PARTIES, AND MUCH OF THE POPULATION TOOK THE
ELECTIONS. THE INDEPENDENT GEORGIAN CENTRAL
ELECTORAL COMMISSION, ESTABLISHED BY THE SUPREME
SOVIET IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ELECTORAL LAW PASSED
EARLIER THIS YEAR, SENT INVITATIONS THROUGH THE
GEORGIAN MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS TO OBSERVERS
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FROM MORE THAN A DOZEN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES AND
NON-GOVEBNMENTAL GROUPS. REPRESENTATIVES CAME FROM
TEN COUNTRIES, NOTABLY THE U.S., FINLAND, BELGIUM,
GERMANY, HOLLAND, FRANCE, SPAIN AND RUSSIA (SIC), AND
INCLUDED MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT, LAWYERS, ACADEMICS,
AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS. IN ADDITION TO
EMBOFFS, THE AMERICAN CONTINGENT INCLUDED CSCE
COMMISSION STAFFER MICHAEL OCHS, FIVE MEMBERS OF THE

lJNCLASSIFIED
AMERIC~ BAR ASSOCIATION LED BY WALTER WHITE,
CHAI~ OF THE WISCONSIN SECURITY EXCHANGES UNCLASSIFIED
COMMISSION, AND PROFESSORS DARYL SLEIDER AND VICTOR

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ACTION E"UR.-01

INFO LOG-OO ADS-OO ClAE-OO DODE-OO HA-09 H-01 INRE-OO

INE.-05 L-03 NSAE-OO NSCE-OO OMB-01 PA-01 PM-01
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------------------OACA28 021809Z /45
o 0217532 NOV 90
FM AMEMB~SY MOSCOW
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3432
INFO RUEHLN/AMCONSUL LENINGRAD
MOSCOW POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

CON F IDE N T I A L SECTION 04 OF 06 MOSCOW 38692

E.O. 12356: DECL:OADR

TAGS: PGOV, PINR, UR
SUBJECT: GEORGIAN ELECTIONS - OPPOSITION ROUND TABLE

PEPPARD OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN FLORIDA. THE

CENTRAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION ARRANGED FOR THE
OBSERVERS TO TRAVEL TO ANY PART OF GEORGIA THEY
WISHED ON ELECTION DAY, AND PARTICIPANTS FANNED OUT
TO DISTRICTS IN ABKHAZIA, SOUTHERN OSSETIA, ADJARA,
GORI (STALIN'S BIRTHPLACE), TELAVI, KUTAISI,
CHIATURA, ~ULI, AND VARIOUS DISTRICTS IN TBILISI.

ELECTION DAY: A MIXED BAG

/-------------------------

UNCLASSIFIED
 UNCLASSIFIED
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13. (LOU) BASED ON EMBOFFS' OBSERVATIONS AND
DISCUSSIONS WITH OTHER OBSERVERS, THE ELECTIONS WERE,
WITH SOME EXCEPTIONS, CONDUCTED WITH A REMARKABLE
DEGREE OF FAIRNESS. THE MOST COMMON COMPLAINTS HEARD
WERE THAT VOTING LISTS AND OPPOSITION PARTY PLATFORMS
WERE PRINTED TOO LATE FOR EFFECTIVE CAMPAIGNING, AND
THAT VOTERS RECEIVED THEIR INVITATION TO THE POLLS
LATE OR NOT AT ALL (COMMENT: THESE INVITATIONS
SERVED PRIMARILY TO IDENTIFY TO VOTERS LOCATIONS OF
POLLING PLACES, AND WERE NOT REQUIRED TO CAST
BALLOTS. SEE SEPTEL. END COMMENT). ALSO, IT WAS
ALLEGED THAT COMMUNIST PARTY OFFICIALS AND SUPPORTERS
PUT PRESSURE ON VOTERS, PARTICULARLY THE LESS
EDUCATED AND THOSE IN RURAL COLLECTIVES, TO VOTE FOR
THE COMMUNIST PARTY, AND THAT SOME VOTERS CAST
MULTIPLE BALLOTS.
14. (LOU) MORE SERIOUS, PERHAPS, THAN THESE
PROCEDURAL INCONSISTENCIES BEFORE AND DURING THE
ELECTION WAS THE DECISION BY ABKHAZIAM AND OSSETIAN
NATIONAL GROUPS TO BOYCOTT THE ELECTIONS. INDEED, IN
DISTRICTS WITHIN THE OSSETIAN CAPITAL OF TKHSINVALI
LESS THAN TEN PERCENT OF THE REGISTERED VOTERS CAST
BALLOTS. IN TWO DISTRICTS IN ABKHAZIA ELECTORAL
COMMISSIONS DISINTEGRATED AND ELECTIONS WERE NOT HELD
AT ALL (COMMENT: THE ELECTION IN SOUTHERN OSSETIA AND
ABKHASIA WILL BE DISCUSSED IN MORE DETAIL SEPTEL.
END COMMENT).

THE CORRELEONES VS THE TATTAGLIAS

/--------------------------------
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··15. (LOU) THE WEEKS PROCEEDING THE ELECTION WERE
MARKED BY GROWING ANIMOSITY AND TENSION AMONG THE
OPPOSITION PARTIES, PARTICULARLY BETWEEN ROUND TABLE
LEADER G~SAKHURDIA AND NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY
LEADER CHANTURIA, AND BY THE INCREASING THREAT OF
VIOLENCE. GAMSAKHURDIA AND CHANTURIA EXCHANGED

UNCLASSIFIED
CHARGES OF WORKING FOR THE KGB, AND EACH TRAVELLED
WITH A GROUP OF ARMED BODYGUARDS. ON OCTOBER 19, THE UNCLASSIFIED
HEADQUARTERS OF THE NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE PARTY AND
THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY WERE RANSACKED. SHOTS
WERE FIRED THROUGH THE WINDOWS OF THE NATIONAL
DEMOCRATIC PARTY, AND TWO OF ITS MEMBERS BEATEN. THE
TWO PARTIES BLAMED THE "ROUND TABLE" FOR THE VIOLENCE.

THE ALTERNATIVE ELECTIONS

/------------------------
16. (LOU) CHANTURIA'S PARTY REJECTED THE OFFICIAL
ELECTIONS SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 28, AND TOOK THE LEAD
IN ORGANIZING AN ALTERNATIVE ELECTION ON SEPTEMBER
30. OTHER PARTICIPANTS IN THESE EARLIER ELECTIONS
INCLUDED THE NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE PARTY, LED BY
lRAKLY TSERETELI, SEVERAL INDEPENDENTS AND THE
COMMUNISTS. HOWEVER, ACCORDING TO DEPUTY FOREIGN
MINISTER GORDELADZE, THE COMMUNISTS WHO TOOK PART DID
SO AS INDIVIDUALS WITHOUT T,HE SANCTION OF THE
GEORGIAN PARTY LEADERSHIP. PARTICIPANTS CLAIMED THAT
50.8 PERCENT OF THE GEORGIAN ELECTORATE TOOK PART IN
THE ALTERNATIVE ELECTIONS -- A CLAIM THAT CENTRAL
ELECTION COMMISSION MEMBERS DISMISSED AS
"RIDICULOUS. " THE NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE PARTY WON A
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MAJORITY OF THE 110 SEATS, FOLLOWED CLOSELY BY
CHANTURIA'S PARTY.

17. (LOU) THE NATIONAL CONGRESS ELECTED DURING THE

ALTERNATIVE ELECTIONS HELD ITS FIRST SESSION ON
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26. SEVERAL RESOLUTIONS WERE PASSED,
INCLUDING A CALL FOR A BOYCOTT OF THE OFFICIAL
ELECTION SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 28, WHICH WAS BACKED
BY CHANTURIA'S PARTY AGAINST A MORE RADICAL VERSION
CALLING FOR ACTIVE DISRUPTION OF THE ELECTIONS. THE
RESOLUTION WHICH PASSED STATED THAT THE PARTIES WOULD

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 UNCLASSIFIED

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ACTION E UR-01

INFO LOG-OO ADS-OO ClAE-OO DODE-OO HA-09 H-01 INRE-OO

INR-05 L-03 NSAE-OO NSCE-OO OMB-01 PA-01 PM-01
PRS-01 P-02 SNP-01 SP-01 SSO-OO SS-Ol TRSE-OO
T-01 USIE-OO /029W
------------------OACA78 021810Z /45
o 021753Z NOV 90
FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3433
INFO RUEHLN/AMCONSUL LENINGRAD
MOSCOW POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

CON F IDE N T I A L SECTION 05 OF 06 MOSCOW 38692

E.O. 12356: DECL:OADR

TAGS: PGOV, PINR, UR
SUBJECT: GEORGIAN ELECTIONS - OPPOSITION ROUND TABLE

NOT ACTIVELY INTERFERE IN THE CONDUCT OF THE OCTOBER

28 ELECTIONS.

18. (C) AT APPROXIMATELY 6:00 P.M., AS THE NATIONAL

CONGRESS WAS CONCLUDING ITS FIRST DAY'S SESSION,
CHANTURIA WAS SHOT AND WOUNDED WHILE LEAVING THE
BUILDING ON RUSTAVELI STREET. TOMAS TSERETELI, A
MEMBER OF CHANTURIA' S PARTY AND REPRESENTATIVE TO THE
NATIONAL CONGRESS, TOLD EMBOFFS THE FOLLOWING DAY
THAT CHANTURIA WAS WOUNDED IN THE HAND. HE RECE lVED
MEDICAL TREATMENT AT A HOSPITAL AND LATER WENT HOME
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TO REST. TSERETELI REFUSED TO SPECULATE ABOUT WHO
WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SHOOTING, BUT STATED THAT THE
NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY BELIEVED THAT THIS WAS A
"TERRORIST ACT" DESIGNED TO FURTHER DESTABILIZE THE

UNCLASSIFIED
POLITICAL ATMOSPHERE IN THE WAKE OF THE OPENING OF UNCLASSIFIED
THE NATIONAL CONGRESS. THE PERSON OR PERSONS
RESPONSIELE FOR THE SHOOTING HAVE NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED.

AFTER VICTORY WHAT?

j------------------
19. (C) THE ROUND TABLE PLATFORM, LIKE THOSE OF ALL
THE OTHER PARTIES WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE ELECTIONS,
CALLS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF GEORGIAN INDEPENDENCE,
ALTHOUGH THE TIMING AND MODALITIES FOR ITS
ESTABLIS~NT HAVE NOT BEEN SPELLED OUT. IN PRIVATE
CONVERSATIONS, GAMSAKHURDIA SPOKE OF A "TRANSITION
PERIOD" OF UNSPECIFIED DURATION. DURING THIS PERIOD,
THE GEORGIAN PARLIAMENT WOULD PASS LAWS ON ECONOMIC
REFORM, DEFENSE AND MILITARY SERVICE, IMMIGRATION AND
BORDERS, AND NEGOTIATE WITH MOSCOW. THE CHARACTER OF
THE TRANSITION, I.E. WHETHER IT WILL BE PEACEFUL OR
NOT, WOULD DEPEND, ACCORDING TO GAMSAKHURDIA, ON
MOSCOW. GAMSAKHURDIA ALSO SAID HE BELIEVES IN
RESPECT FOR THE POLITICAL, CULTURAL, AND RELIGIOUS
RIGHTS OF THE MINORITIES LIVING IN THE REPUBLIC, BUT
NOT THEIR INDEPENDENCE OR SEPARATION FROM THE
GEORGIAN REPUBLIC. ANY SOLUTION TO THE MINORITY
PROBLEM, HE STRESSED, MUST PRESERVE THE TERRITORIAL
INTEGRITY OF GEORGIA AND TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE RIGHTS
OF THE MAJORITY.
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HE WHO WOULD BE KING

j-------------------
20. (C) IN A DISCUSSION WITH EMBOFF, GAMSAKHURDIA
STRESSED THAT PEOPLE KNOW THE ROUND TABLE NOT ONLY BY
ITS PLATFORM BUT BY HOW ITS MEMBERS LIVED: "PEOPLE
ARE ON OUR SIDE, n SAID GAMSAKHURDIA, "NOT ONLY
BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE IN OUR PLATFORM, BUT BECAUSE
THEY BELIEVE IN OUR DEEDS. n ROUND TABLE'S POPULAR
MANDATE IS OVERWHELMING, BUT IT APPEARS TO BE MORE A
VOTE AGAINST THE COMMUNIST PAST THAN A VOTE FOR A
FUTURE PROGRAM. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A
GAMSAKHURDIA-LED MAJORITY IN THE FUTURE GEORGIAN
GOVERNMENT AND THE COMMUNISTS AND OTHER OPPOSITION
PARTIES WILL BE AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IN THE REPUBLIC'S
POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC STABILIZATION. WHILE THE

lJNCLASSIFIED
COMMUNISTS HAVE BEEN VOTED OUT OF OFFICE, PURGING
THEM FROM THE EXECUTIVE ORGANS COULD PROVE - AS IT UNCLASSIFIED
HAS IN OTHER PLACES IN THE SOVIET UNION - TO BE A
LONG AMD FRUSTRATING FIGHT.

21. (C) IN ADDITION, GAMSAKHURDIA'S VICTORY COULD

FURTHER FUEL ETHNIC TENSIONS AND CONFLICTS IN THE
REGION. HE IS VIEWED BY SOME OF THE MINORITY GROUPS,
PARTICUL.ARLY THE ABKHAZIANS AND OSSETIANS, AS A
GEORGIAN NATIONALIST AT BEST AND A CHAUVINIST AT
WORST. HIS UNCOMPROMISING POSITION WITH RESPECT TO
THE SOUTHERN OSSETIANS, WHOM HE HAS CALLED A MINORITY
WITHOUT RIGHTS TO THE LANDS THEY OCCUPY, HAS BEEN
ESPECIALLY TROUBLING EVEN TO OTHER MEMBERS OF THE
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GEORGIAN DEMOCRATIC OPPOSITION. MOREOVER, WHILE THE
COMMUNIST PARTY HAS LOST CONTROL OF THE GEORGIAN
PARLIAMENT AND GOVERNMENT, IT DID RECEIVE
APPROXIMATELY ONE FIFTH OF THE TOTAL POPULAR VOTE.
WHEN THE RETURNS ARE ANALYZED, THEY WILL LIKELY SHOW
THAT THE COMMUNIST PARTY RECEIVED THE MAJORITY OF ITS
VOTES IN REGIONS IN WHICH MINORITIES - RUSSIAN,
OSSETIAN, ABKHAZIAN - AND THE LESS EDUCATED RURAL
POPULATION LIVE. IRONICALLY, THE COMMUNIST PROFILE
IN GEORGIA MAY INCREASINGLY BECOME THAT OF THE
"HAVE-NOT" PARTY AND THE ADVOCATE OF MINORITY RIGHTS

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ACTION EUR-01

lJNCL.i\SSIFIED
INFO LOG-OO ADS-OO ClAE-OO DODE-OO HA-09 H-01 INRE-OO
IN:R-05 L-03 NSAE-OO NSCE-OO OMB-01 PA-01 PM-01
PRS-01 P-02 SNP-01 SP-01 SSO-OO SS-Ol TRSE-OO
T-01 USIE-OO /029W
------------------OACA8F 021811Z /45
o 0217532 NOV 90 UNCLASSIFIED
FM AMEMB~SSY MOSCOW
TO SECST~TE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3434
INFO RUEELN/AMCONSUL LENINGRAD
MOSCOW POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

CON F IDE N T I A L SECTION 06 OF 06 MOSCOW 38692

E.O. 12356: DECL:OADR

TAGS: PGOV, PINR, UR
SUBJECT: GEORGIAN ELECTIONS - OPPOSITION ROUND TABLE

-- A ROLE IT PLAYED IN TSARIST DAYS.

22. (C) ALTHOUGH GAMSAKHURDIA REPORTEDLY TOLD AN

AMERICAN OBSERVER PRIVATELY THAT HE HAS NO INTENTION
OF TAKING THE POSITION OF CHAIRMAN OF THE PRESIDIUM
OF THE SUPREME SOVIET, IT IS DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE
THAT HE WOULD FORGO THIS PRIZE AFTER HIS HARD-WON
VICTORY, EVEN IF ONLY TO SPITE HIS CHIEF RIVAL
CHANTURIA. THE OVERT HOSTILITY BETWEEN GAMSAKHURDIA
AND CHANTURIA, DISTRUST OF GAMSAKHURDIA BY OTHER
LEADERS .AND MINORITY GROUPS, AND GAMSAKHURDIA' S
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PEREMPTORY AND DOGMATIC CHARACTER WILL MAKE FORGING A
POLITICAL ALLIANCE ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT. THE
RESISTANCE OF COMMUNIST PARTY APPARATCHIKI, AND THE
RESENTMENT AND FEAR EXPRESSED BY MINORITY GROUPS IN
ABKHAZIA AND SOUTHERN OSSETIA MAKE FOR A VOLATILE
MIX: WITHOUT RESOLUTION OF THE PERSONAL ANIMOSITIES
AMONG THE FORMER OPPOSITION LEADERS A'D THE CONSENT
OF THE ENTRENCHED COMMUNIST BUREAUCRATS, GEORGIA
WILL, AT BEST, REMAIN CRITICALLY DIVIDED AT A TIME OF
GREAT POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC INSTABILITY, AND, AT
WORST, MAY SLIDE INTO FACTIONAL FIGHTING AND CIVIL
WAR.

23. (C) DESPITE THESE BLEAK PROSPECTS, SOME

GEORGIANS REMAIN OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE ELECTION RESULT

UNCLASSIFIED
AMD THE FUTURE. AS ONE YOUNG GEORGIAN POLITICAL UNCLASSIFIED
ACTIVIST PUT IT, HE IS OPTIMISTIC NOW THAT THE MOST
IMPORTANT QUESTION HAS BEEN RESOLVED - THAT IS, THAT
THE COMMUNISTS HAVE BEEN UNDENIABLY DEFEATED IN A
DEMOCRATIC ELECTION. HE EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT THE
GEORGIAN FACTIONS WILL BE ABLE TO RETURN FROM THEIR
EXTREME POSITIONS INTO THE POLITICAL MIDDLE GROUND.
HE FELT THAT GAMSAKHURDIA WOULD INDEED GO ON TO FORGE
A POLITICAL COALITION SINCE HE WOULD NOT WANT TO BEAR
ALONE THE RESPONSIBILITY AND BURDEN OF LEADING THE
REPUBLIC AWAY FROM THE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC ABYSS
IT FACES.

24. LENINGBAD MINIMIZE CONSIDERED. MATLOCK

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UNCLASSIFIED