“I Have Elected The President Of My Country But The Winner Is Another”

The publication of the final result of the extraordinary elections is getting closer and closer. The January 5 election caused controversy among the society from its very beginning. Some consider that nothing has been done to prevent electoral fraud and another part of society thinks that the presidential candidate who really deserved the victory, has won the election. What are the views of Georgian people on the 2008 election? Was the election fair and democratic? And would they expect such an outcome?

The Kutaisi Office of the Human Rights Centre conducted a public survey.

Nana Kiria, Teacher: “This election was falsified. On the election day the voters were pressured. They were met at the polling stations and forced to get in a “Marshutka”(mini buses used for transportation) and vote for Saakashvili. A president who comes to power by coercion is not necessary for Georgia or its population. I was electing a president for my country on January 5, but in fact I was disappointed.”

Lasha Gureshidze, Student: “I cannot say that on election day there have been disastrous fraudulent practices, but on the whole the January 5th election was a failure. The people were cheated by promises and they were not educated politically. The voters did not even know the names of the presidential candidates. The important thing for them was that they were voting for their bread-winner. This is a tragedy and it concerns me more than which presidential candidate has won or lost the election.”

Vika Rukhadze, Housewife: “Do you think that the election was fair and democratic? I do not think so. Lies and dictatorship won. Saakashvili was elected by the minority of Georgian people, but he got the majority of the votes. This is surprising, is it not? They are laughing at the people, especially when they appear on TV and the smiling faces of the “Nationalists” are shown. My children do not need a president who is elected by the “Nationalists”, but a president elected by those Georgian people who bravely faced the water canons and rubber bullets during the November demonstrations and showed their will and courage to the whole world. But as it turns out nobody cares about the people’s opinion.”

Tengiz Saralidze, Economist: “I am surprised. I doubt that the election outcome is different. I was an observer at a polling station and the counting process really impressed me. Saakashvili was ahead. How did he manage to win over the electorate with his promises? On the ballot paper concerning the plebiscite on NATO, people indicated that they were supporting Georgia’s integration in NATO only along with Mikheil Saakashvili. It is obvious that the “National Movement” did its best. I wish them to work for our Georgian population with such spirit as well.”

Natela Ugrekhelidze, Saleswoman: “I do believe that the final results will draw an absolutely different picture. If I, my family, friends, relatives and neighbors support only one candidate, how is possible that another candidate is the winner? This is really astonishing. I expect a second round for the presidential election and hope that it will change something.”

Giorgi Nikoladze, Unemployed: “ A bag of flour and a bottle of oil won the election and not Saakashvili. People were cheated and the government will do the same in the future. Neither Gachechiladze nor Gamkrelidze and the other candidates were able to manipulate people in poor villages with vouchers and use administrative recourses. That is why they lost the election. But Misha has done it. So we can expect high prices on food supplies and the arrest of many people, whose bail money will go towards the state budget. We shall see many interesting surprises, let us wait for them. Probably they will strip our skins.”

Shorena Kakabadze, Kutaisi.