POLITICAL FORCES PICK SIDES AS GEORGIAN ELECTION PROTESTS CONTINUE
A EurasiaNet Photo Story: 11/10/03
Photos by Steven Weinberg

With street protests ongoing and the two most prominent opposition groups increasingly strident in their calls for his resignation, Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze has sought political backing both within and outside the country in a bid to maintain control of the volatile situation.

In the past few days, a number of parties (officially opposition, but having a history of close cooperation with Shevardnadze’s government) have affirmed their position on Shevardnadze’s side of the dispute. That has left two parties – and thousands of Georgians that continue to occupy the space outside the country’s parliament building – to condemn results in an increasingly polarized atmosphere.

Shevardnadze declared on November 10 that he would meet with the remaining opposition parties "as many times as necessary" to resolve questions of legitimacy. Despite such statements, the president seemed eager to shore up his core support after talks collapsed on Sunday between Shevardnadze and the three main opposition leaders. Over the weekend, Revival, the Industrialists, and the Labor Party -- all three groups technically in the opposition but widely seen as government supporters -- have declared a united front to oppose the claims of ballot fraud brought by the Saakashvili National Movement and the Burjanadze-Democrats.

From Shevardnadze’s perspective, the most important of the three groups is Revival, a regional party based in the autonomous republic of Ajaria. Aslan Abashidze, the head of Revival and local strongman, has thrown his weight fully behind Shevardnadze and the official results of the election. Observers have decried as fraudulent the returns from Ajaria, which have given Revival 20 percent of the countrywide vote count according to official statistics.

Despite or perhaps because of this criticism, Shevardnadze traveled to Batumi, the regional capital, to meet openly with Abashidze. Upon emerging from private consultations, both men pledged to fight destabilizing influences, a clear reference to the ongoing unrest in Tbilisi.

Shevardnadze has also secured the backing of Russia, a key regional player. Vladimir Chkhikvishvili, Russia’s ambassador to Georgia, met with Shevardnadze on November 9 and expressed Russia’s full support for the embattled President. The same day, Russian President Vladimir Putin called Shevardnadze to praise his handling of the protests. On Georgia’s Imedi TV, Putin’s spokesperson said the Russian president had expressed to Shevardnadze "readiness to take decisions that reflected the interests of both countries," a statement that, while vague, was nonetheless interpreted as a signal of Putin’s support.

The two opposition parties that are at the center of the protests – often labeled the "democratic opposition" – have grown more isolated over the weekend. With Russia and a number of Shevardnadze’s political allies within the country rallying to his defense, Saakashvili’s National Movement and the Burjanadze-Democrats have relied on popular support to sustain their protest. Despite poor weather conditions, crowds of thousands continue their round-the-clock vigil outside parliament.

The United States and other key international actors remain largely above the fray. US Ambassador Miles’ statement to reporters November 10 that "It’s a time for private diplomacy...I don’t want to get into advice other than urging the continuation of peaceful political means, avoiding violence," reflects US reticence to take sides in the continuing crisis.

Shevardnadze appears to have isolated his most vocal critics, at least for the short term. Civil society advocates will be watching to see if the United States completes the embrace that Russia began. If it does, protestors and dissenting parties will face increasingly steep challenges as they try to make their voices heard.

Editor's Note: Steven Weinberg is a photojournalist covering Caucasus affairs.

The EurasiaNet photo coverage of the Georgian parliamentary election is being supported by Foto Care, a New York-based photo supply store that encourages photographers to promote a greater understanding of human conditions in countries around the world.

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Posted November 10, 2003 © Eurasianet
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