The free political ads of presidential candidate Davit Gamkrelidze, leader of the New Rights Party, have been focusing on attacking various policies of the Saakashvili administration, particularly those on the Georgian Orthodox Church and private property.

 

One ad shows footage of a demolished church in Adjara accompanied by a voiceover saying that Saakashvili “has been fighting the Georgian Orthodox Church from the very first day of coming into power.” Viewers can then read, what the ad describes as Saakashvili’s policy: “the demolition of churches; insulting religion.”

 

Saakashvili, obviously conscious of the power of the church and the need to be seen as sympathetic to it, has recently been emphasising the fact that over 200 churches have been repaired during his first presidential term. In one of his own political ads, Saakashvili is seen lighting a candle in a church and speaking to a priest.

 

In another Gamkrelidze ad, archive footage of a destroyed apartment building in downtown Tbilisi is shown, with a voiceover saying that Gamkrelidze would protect citizens’ property rights.