Chart: Opposition Demands/Ruling Party’s Response

Civil Georgia, Tbilisi / 16 Feb.'08 / 15:25

What the opposition demanded and what was the authorities’ response:

Opposition Demands	Ruling Party's Response
Re-count of disputed votes and making CCTV camera footage at the polling stations public;	The footage recorded by CCTV cameras [at the polling stations] is public for any interested person; The ruling party’s memorandum does not address re-count of disputed votes;
Investigation of electoral violations and punishment of those responsible for these violations;	The violations, which have been revealed or will be revealed after familiarizing with the footage from CCTV cameras, as well as those violations in which documented evidence, drafted in accordance to procedures prescribed by the election code, are available, will be investigated under the rule and terms prescribed by the relevant legal procedures;
Constitutional amendments stipulating confidence vote for a new cabinet by newly elected Parliament;	Draft amendments to the Georgian constitution have been prepared, according to which the cabinet will be submitted to a newly elected parliament for confidence vote under the rule defined by the constitution;
Immediate release of persons arrested for political reasons; The opposition’s list includes nine people jailed on public disorder charges and for disobeying police orders, and another nine on drugs-related charges. The opposition, however, claims that the drugs charges were fabricated against people who participated in the anti-government rallies. Opposition has also demanded that criminal charges brought against ex-Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili and others associated with him be dropped;	Persons arrested during the November 7, 2007 events will be released within a week; The majority of persons included in the both lists submitted by the opposition has either nothing to do with the November events;
Investigation of excessive use of forces by law enforcements agencies on November, 7, 2007, as well as of cases of assaults and intimidation of political opponents;	In case of reaching a consensus between the political forces, the newly elected parliament will set up a commission, which will investigate the issues related to the November 7 events, including the facts of mass unrests and [attempted] overthrow of the constitutional system, cases of cooperation with foreign special services, excessive use of force by law enforcement agencies, intimidation and attacks on political opponents and [the commission] will give a political assessment to these facts. The commission’s findings, however, will not result into criminal proceedings against any person;
Resignation of Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili and newly appointed General Prosecutor Eka Tkeshelashvili;	The ruling party’s memorandum does not at all addresses the issue;
Reorganization of major Interior Ministry agencies like the Special Operations Department and the Department for Constitutional Security, which the opposition says, are often used for “political repression” and “intimidation of political opponents;”	In case of reaching a consensus between the political parties, a commission comprising the governmental and opposition politicians, as well independent experts will be set up within a month to elaborate proposals regarding the implementation of further reforms at the Interior Ministry;
Creation of a monitoring system for the oversight of law enforcement agencies: Parliamentary investigative commission, set up on parity basis, as well as creation of regional monitoring councils, which will investigate illegal actions of law enforcement agencies;	The same commission will elaborate proposals on setting up a monitoring council, which will oversee the activities of the law enforcement agencies;
New board of trustees of the Public Broadcaster, which will be set up on parity basis and appointment of new General Director of the public TV based on mutual agreement;	The new Board will be composed at the end of February. In case of successful completion of a political dialogue, the members and chairman of the Board will be selected based on a consensus between the political forces. The new Board of Trustees of the Public Broadcaster will appoint a new Director General;
Lifting media restrictions, involving a ban on video and photo coverage in court buildings and courtrooms; The ban was imposed last August;	Free access of media sources in the courtrooms without video cameras is already guaranteed. Audio recordings of trials will be provided without any restrictions upon the request.
Putting into operation a meaningful system of monitoring of private TV companies – by so called 'Michnik Group'	Monitoring over observance of journalistic standards will be conducted through the self-regulation mechanisms developed by the Public Broadcaster and the society. The proposals on the rule of creating a group with relevant functions and its activities will be elaborated within a month;
Composition of the Georgian National Communications Commission (GNCC) on a parity basis;	The ruling party’s memorandum does not at all address this issue;
Holding of Parliamentary elections in April;	The parliamentary elections will be held not earlier than May 14 and not later than May 24. The opposition said it was possible to agree on that proposal;
Holding of election of the legislative body of the Adjara Autonomous Republic in July, instead of late 2008;	The ruling party’s memorandum does not at all address that issue;
Abolishment of the first-past-the-post, winner-takes-all system while electing majoritarian MPs;	In case of reaching a consensus between the political forces, the majoritarian election system will be replaced by the regional proportional system. Relevant draft constitutional amendments have already been initiated and in case of a consensus, the amendments will be implemented by the end of March.
Composition of all level electoral administrations on parity basis; Currently the opposition has six and the authorities seven (including chairman) members at the Central Election Commission (CEC) and precinct election commissions;	In case of reaching a consensus between the political forces, during the election period the district election commissions will be composed under the same principle as the CEC. A district commission (a total of 13 members) will include 6 members from opposition parties during the election period.
Appointment of CEC Chairperson through mutual agreement and appointment;	In case of a full consensus between the political forces and reaching an agreement on concrete candidates, by mid-March the composition of the Central Election Commission will be revised.
Opposition should have a right to appoint chairpersons of some district election and precinct election commissions; while chairperson of some will be appointed by the authority;	The ruling party’s memorandum does not address the issue;
The President and other political officials should be banned from participation in the election campaign in favor of any political party;	Some articles of the election code, dealing with restriction of participation of public officials in the election campaigning will be made clearer.
Provide meaningful mechanisms in the election code in respect of proper consideration of election complaints;	In case of reaching a consensus, in order to create a meaningful mechanism for addressing election-related complaints, a Special Council for considering election disputes will be set up, which will be composed through consultations between the political forces by the end of March. The council will be composed of four or six members. In case of a consensus, additional member will be selected by a respected international organization.
CCTV cameras at all polling stations and publicity of footage;	Before March 25 the CEC will submit proposals on technical aspects of installing CCTV cameras at all polling stations; Mechanisms for making footage from the CCTV cameras at the polling stations immediately available will be developed.