Smelling the Roses: Eduard Shevardnadze's End and Georgia's Future

Problems of Post-Communism

Volumn 51, Issue 2, 2004, Pages 12-21

  Miller, Eric A ^a  

^a National Center for Public Policy Research   (United States)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

EID: 1842682834     PISSN: 10758216     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1080/10758216.2004.11052161     Document Type: Article

References (46)

1. Jean Christophe Peuch, "Georgia's Parliamentary Elections: Democracy in the Making?" Caucasus Election Watch, Center for Strategic and International Studies (October 27, 2003): 2-5.
2. "Georgian Daily on Baker's Visit, 'Rigid' Stance, 'Harsh' Election Directive," via World News Connection (hereafter cited as WNC) (July 7, 2003).
3. Approximately one-third of the appointed chairs of the district election commissions had served in previous elections, raising further concerns among the opposition and the international community. The Georgian parliament had attempted to include an article in the election code that would have prohibited former election chairs from serving, but the provision was removed by the government. See "OSCE Says Georgia's Election Code Should be Amended," WNC (August 24, 2003); "Pro-Government Bloc Gains Control of Local Electoral Administrations," WNC (September 10, 2003).
4. Approximately one-third of the appointed chairs of the district election commissions had served in previous elections, raising further concerns among the opposition and the international community. The Georgian parliament had attempted to include an article in the election code that would have prohibited former election chairs from serving, but the provision was removed by the government. See "OSCE Says Georgia's Election Code Should be Amended," WNC (August 24, 2003); "Pro-Government Bloc Gains Control of Local Electoral Administrations," WNC (September 10, 2003).
5. Varlam Tchkuaseli, "West Piles Pressure on Georgia Ahead of Elections," Eurasia Insight (October 19,2003), available at www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/index.shtml.
6. Comments by Ambassador Rudolf Perina at a U.S. Department of State Seminar, "Unresolved Conflicts in the Former Soviet Union," Washington, DC (August 28, 2003).
7. Author interview with Ambassador Revaz Adamia, Washington, DC, July 15, 2003.
8. Eric A. Miller, "Georgia Looks to the West for Help in Abkhazia," Eurasia Insight (August 21, 2003).
9. Vladimir Socor, "Georgia: A Test Ground for Putin's International Conduct," Wall Street Journal (October 20, 2002); Tengiz Pachkoria, "Experts to Discuss Closure of Russian Military Bases in Georgia," ITAR-TASS (September 2, 2003).
10. Vladimir Socor, "Georgia: A Test Ground for Putin's International Conduct," Wall Street Journal (October 20, 2002); Tengiz Pachkoria, "Experts to Discuss Closure of Russian Military Bases in Georgia," ITAR-TASS (September 2, 2003).
11. Mamuka Tsereteli, "Russian Energy Expansion in Caucasus: Risks and Mitigation Strategy," Central Asia-Caucasus Analyst (August 27, 2003), available at www.cacianalyst.org.
12. In his weekly radio interview, Shevardnadze argued that the deal would mean lower costs for Georgian energy users: "One company [UES] is becoming both the strategic distributor and the supplier and this can only have a positive affect on electricity tariffs." Quoted by Zeyno Baran, "Deals Give Russian Companies Influence Over Georgia's Energy Infrastructure," Eurasia Insight (August 8, 2003).
13. "Press Conference with RAO UES of Russia Chair of Board Anatoly Chubais," Kremlin International News Broadcast (September 17, 2003).
14. International Election Observation Mission to Georgia, "Statement of Preliminary Findings and Conclusions," (November 3, 2003): 1, available at www.osce.org/press_rel/2003/pdf_documents/11-3659-odihr1.pdf.
15. Dan Sershen, "Chaotic Election Day in Georgia Produces Contradictory Results," Eurasia Insight (November 3, 2003).
16. For more on the violations, see International Election Observation Mission to Georgia, "Statement of Preliminary Findings and Conclusions," pp. 2-3, 6-10.
17. Sershen, "Chaotic Election Day in Georgia."
18. "Georgian Opposition Gathered for Meetings in Towns Outside Tbilisi," WNC (November 4, 2003); "Split in Opposition over Rigged Elections, Saakashvili's Role Eyed," WNC (November 6, 2003); Justyna Mielnikiewicz, "Political Storm Clouds Build in Georgia," Eurasia Insight (November 6, 2003).
19. "Georgian Opposition Gathered for Meetings in Towns Outside Tbilisi," WNC (November 4, 2003); "Split in Opposition over Rigged Elections, Saakashvili's Role Eyed," WNC (November 6, 2003); Justyna Mielnikiewicz, "Political Storm Clouds Build in Georgia," Eurasia Insight (November 6, 2003).
20. "Georgian Opposition Gathered for Meetings in Towns Outside Tbilisi," WNC (November 4, 2003); "Split in Opposition over Rigged Elections, Saakashvili's Role Eyed," WNC (November 6, 2003); Justyna Mielnikiewicz, "Political Storm Clouds Build in Georgia," Eurasia Insight (November 6, 2003).
21. "U.S. Ambassador Urges Georgian President to Help Restore Voters' Confidence," WNC (November 5, 2003).
22. "Ajarian Vote Result Shows Democratic Revival Leading Election Race," WNC (November 6, 2003).
23. Blanka Hancilova, "Pro-Russian Politician Acts as Power-Broker in Georgia Post-Election Crisis," Central Asia-Caucasus Analyst (November 19, 2003).
24. "Pro-Government Forces Declared Election Winners," WNC (November 20, 2003).
25. "Georgian Officials Respond to U.S. Criticism over Election Irregularities," WNC (November 21, 2003).
26. "Georgian President Resigns, Says Going 'Home,' "WNC (November 23, 2003).
27. Sebastian Smith, "Georgia Turns Its Face to the West," Times (London) (December 31, 2003).
28. "Georgia's Acting President Hopes Visit to Moscow Will Open New Page in Relations," WNC (December 23, 2003).
29. Jean-Christophe Peuch, "Russia, U.S. Redistribute Pawns on Caucasus Chessboard after a Year of Change," Eurasia Insight (December 29, 2003).
30. Seth Mydans, "Secessionists from Georgia Hold Talks with Russia," New York Times (December 2, 2003): A6.
31. Tea Gularidze, "Abashidze - Handled with Care," Civil Georgia (December 1, 2003).
32. Giga Chikhladze, "Georgia's Interim Foreign Minister: Russian Security Depends on Georgian Stabilization," Eurasia Insight (January 6, 2004); "Foreign Minister Japaridze on Country's Priorities, Ties with Russia," WNC (December 12, 2003).
33. Giga Chikhladze, "Georgia's Interim Foreign Minister: Russian Security Depends on Georgian Stabilization," Eurasia Insight (January 6, 2004); "Foreign Minister Japaridze on Country's Priorities, Ties with Russia," WNC (December 12, 2003).
34. Peueh, "Russia, U.S. Redistribute Pawns."
35. Transparency International, "Corruption Perceptions Index 2003," October 7, 2003, available at www.transparency.org/cpi/2003/cpi2003. en.html.
36. "Anti-Corruption Drive Seen as 'Settling of Political Accounts,'" WNC (December 13, 2003).
37. Ken Stier, "Georgia Will Get More U.S. Aid," Washington Times (December 5, 2003): 18.
38. "Georgia's New Minister of State Outlines Government's Plans at First Briefing," WNC (December 1, 2003).
39. "U.S. Provides Georgia with $10 Million for Military, Heating Programs, Pensioners," WNC (January 13, 2004).
40. Nicholas Kralev, "Moscow Will Keep Forces in Georgia, Moldova," Washington Times (December 3, 2003): 11; "Georgian Leader Notes Importance of Strategic Cooperation with U.S.," WNC (December 5, 2003).
41. Nicholas Kralev, "Moscow Will Keep Forces in Georgia, Moldova," Washington Times (December 3, 2003): 11; "Georgian Leader Notes Importance of Strategic Cooperation with U.S.," WNC (December 5, 2003).
42. "U.S. Offers to Pay for Russian Withdrawal from Georgia," WNC (January 13, 2004).
43. As Burjanadze stated on January 13, 2004, "The fact that the presidential elections have been held in Ajara and the region has transferred, for the first time in recent times, quite a substantial sum to the state budget is, in my opinion, an important sign that relations with Ajara can be improved." See "Georgia's Acting President, U.S. Official Hold Joint News Conference," WNC (January 13, 2004); Jaba Devdariani, "Abashidze Faces Pressure to Adjust to Georgia's New Political Reality," Eurasia Insight (January 13, 2004).
44. As Burjanadze stated on January 13, 2004, "The fact that the presidential elections have been held in Ajara and the region has transferred, for the first time in recent times, quite a substantial sum to the state budget is, in my opinion, an important sign that relations with Ajara can be improved." See "Georgia's Acting President, U.S. Official Hold Joint News Conference," WNC (January 13, 2004); Jaba Devdariani, "Abashidze Faces Pressure to Adjust to Georgia's New Political Reality," Eurasia Insight (January 13, 2004).
45. See William Clark, "Russia at the Polls: Potemkin Democracy," Problems of Post-Communism 51, no. 2 (March/April 2004): 22-29.
46. For more on the possibility of U.S.-EU cooperation in Georgia, see Kenneth Yalowitz and Svante E. Cornell, "The Critical But Perilous Caucasus," Orbis 48, no. 1 (winter 2004): 113-16.