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Civil Society Appeal to Bidzina Ivanishvili and Davit Usupashvili about Establishment of Real Self-Government in the Country

October 25, 2012

Leader of the Coalition Bidzina Ivanishvili – Georgian Dream and candidate for the position of Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili
Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia
Davit Usupashvili

After the parliamentary elections of October 1, the reform of the self-governmental system was put on the agenda of the new government. This should ensure the democratic development of the country, increase civic engagement in state governing processes and further the rapprochement of Georgia with the Euro-Atlantic space. We consider that these goals cannot be achieved without the preparation and implementation of real self-governmental reform.

Unfortunately, since independence, every government of Georgia has unsuccessfully tried to resolve the socio-political problems of the country through concentrating administrative and financial resources in central government. The culmination of this process was the self-governmental reform of 2005006when a Soviet-style system of government was restored in the country; cities and villages lost the opportunity to independently work towards the resolution of their problems and were subordinated to the political will of the president and the ruling party. This reform was the ultimate step in the formation of a vertical, single-person and single-party government in Georgia. As a result of this reform, the government became completely isolated from the population’s needs and desires and spent huge sums on the implementation of infrastructural projects whilst remaining ignorant to local interests and needs. It is also noteworthy that due to negligence of a central concern of self-governmental institutions, that is,local population’s interests, the government lost parliamentary elections in the cities where they had implemented the most infrastructural projects (in Batumi, Borjomi, Kutaisi, Signagi, etc). So, the unimplemented reforms of previous governments hindered not only state development but also created problems for the government itself. The concentration of power in central government led us into a situation  where the population holds only the central authorities responsible for any unresolved problems in the regions.

We hope that you will recall the mistakes of your predecessors in this area and that you will implement your pre-election promise of taking steps towards real decentralization.

The example of the modern civilized world demonstrates that the establishment of democratic and just states has ensured real engagement of citizens in state government processes. The formation of a free society is impossible without real self-governmental institutions. Additionally, decisions on these issues should not be made in a hurry or within a limited time frame; we believe it is urgently important to use the time left before the self-governmental elections effectively in order to prepare and implement this reform. For this reason, we advise you to start preparation soon and ensure civic engagement in this process.

1. Irakli Melashvili – member of the Coalition for Freedom of Choice;
2. Kote Kandelaki, International Center for Civic Culture, member of the Coalition for Freedom of Choice;
3. Davit Losaberidze - Center of Local Democratic Network; member of the Coalition for Freedom of Choice;
4. Ucha Nanuashvili – Human Rights Center; member of the Coalition for Freedom of Choice;
5. Ia Mamaladze, Georgian Media-Monitoring Center; member of the Coalition for Freedom of Choice;
6. Elguka Khokrishvili - Caucasian Institute of Economics and Social Research; member of the Coalition for Freedom of Choice
7. Magda Popiashvili, Georgian Media-Club; member of the Coalition for Freedom of Choice;
8. Zviad Koridze – journalist, member of the Coalition for Freedom of Choice;
9. Giorgi Khutsishvili -International Center for Conflict and Negotiations; Coalition for Freedom of Choice;
10. Murman Pataraia, Resource Center of Civic Education, member of the Coalition for Freedom of Choice;
11. Keti Tsikhelashvili –Liberal Academi
12. Manana Kochladze – Green Alternative
13. Eka Gigauri – Transparency International Georgia
14. Tamar Chugoshvili – Young Lawyers’ Association
15. Lasha Tugushi – editor-in-chief of the newspaper Rezonansi;
16. Revaz Sakevarishvili – Ekonometri
17. Aslan Chanidze – House of Free Journalists, Batumi
18. Parmen Jalagonia – Young Lawyers’ Association, Batumi
19. Mikheil Chitadze – Gori Information Center
20. Georgian Regional Media Association
21. Association “Union of Chiatura Residents”, Chiatura
22. Union of Democrat Meskhs – Akhaltsikhe
23. Organization “Skhivi”, Kharagauli
24. Young Teachers Union – Ozurgeti
25. Zaal Mamaladze – Community and Self-Government
26. Newspaper Guria News
27. Newspaper “Under 21”, Guria
28. Newspaper “Spektri” Gurjaani
29. Newspaper “People’s Newspaper” Gori
30. Newspaper “Voice of Kakheti” Gurjaani
31. Newspaper “New Newspaper” Kutaisi
32. Newspaper “Southern Gate” Akhaltsikhe
33. Newspaper “My Kharagauli”
Newspaper “Main Topic in Samegrelo” Poti

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