“Resurrected” Majority MPs or Lazy Cons

Gela Mtivlishvili, Kakheti

Based on Sociological Survey, absolute majority of voters does not know who the majority MP from his/her is district. 963 people out of 1 385 interviewed respondents think that it is not necessary to have an MP from each district. They claim that these people will do nothing more than acquiring property in their district and interfering in the activities of the local government.

The sociological survey was carried out by the non-governmental organization Human Rights Center in Kakheti with the support of the sociologic team of the regional newspaper “Imedi”. The survey was about the constitutional amendments regarding the issue of majority MPs. 1,385 respondents were interviewed in Akhmeta, Telavi, Kvareli, Lagodekhi, Gurjaani, Sighnaghi, Dedoplistskaro and Sagarejo districts; interviewers visited people at their home and questions of were asked to people of various ages.

The two questions asked were:

1. do you know who is the majority MP from your district?

2. How do you think, should every district have its representative in the Georgian Parliament?

The results of the polls are the following: 1,037 out of interviewed people did not know who the MP from their district was; 264 people could not recall the name of the MP; and only 84 of them knew the name of the MP.

As for the second question the answers are the following: only 178 out of total interviewed people thought that every district should have its representative in the Georgian Parliament; 963 voters considered that it was not necessary; but 244 people did not want to answer the question.

Kakheti region locals claim that majority MPs from their district are idlers.

“In 2003 before we elected the MPs they were visiting us at home and promising us various things. They even promised things that were beyond their responsibilities. They claimed they would increase the local budget as soon as they get into the parliament; however instead the budget has been reduced. They are idlers and have never done anything good for the district. While president Saakashvili claims that they would increase the salaries of teachers, teachers at the local school are only working because of their enthusiasm for the profession and their students. One teacher noted, “I am ashamed to say that my salary is 18 GEL (about 11 USD) and they have not given to me the salaries for the several previous months. Who cares about us? You will write the article, they will read it and then the public officials will start looking for the  person who dared complain about his or her circumstances ; if they find me, I will not have my 18 GEL soon,” said a teacher of one of Art Schools in Kakheti.

After previous parliamentary elections residents of the Dedoplistskaro District population has seen MP Laert Zubadalashvili only on one occassion. “Zurab Noghaideli, former Prime Minister, arrived in our district and the MP accompanied him here. We wanted to inform him about the urgent problems faced in our district. However, he keeps a distance from us.  Why should I now need similar representative in the parliament?” asked Tamar Charbodashvili, a resident of Dedoplistskaro District.

Locals recalled the time when riot police blocked the bridge linking Georgia and Azerbaijan. “We were waiting at the Entrance Pass Counter in the Parliament for several days and tried to meet with Zubadalashvili. We wanted to urge him to assist us in re-opening the bridge. Instead the lied to us, and claimed he was too busy. However, he promised to receive us as soon as he was free. He tortured us for over a period of a week with his attics. Finally we could not meet him. Now’ they have resurrected when they are in need of our support; now that parliamentary elections are fast approaching,” said Lia Sakanelashvili, Gulo Papiashvili and others.

The same is true with other majority MPs have not had meetings with their so-called constituents in the last four years. Consequently, all those living in Kakheti have complained about their behavior. According to the Sighnaghi based NGOs, local MP Nugzar Shoshiashvili is rather busy by increasing his property holdings in the region. He would rather take his time doing this than to fulfill his real responsibilities. “Shoshiashvili is a lawyer and knows how to collect property without leaving any telltale evidence that could be used against him in the future. He worked as a deputy Prosecutor General for many years. He has a great influence in the district and knows how the system works. As far as we know, he has registered thousands acres of land on certain “Atula”, a resident of the village of Sakibo. Peasants work like slaves on his land,” said representatives of the NGO Club of Kakheti region.

Telavi residents state that MP Tamaz Khidasheli arrives in the district only when President visits Telavi. Khidasheli does not meet with his voters as well. And that he does not do his office works in the region.

Nana Devidze, regional coordinator of the “International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy” blames the MPs for breaking the law. She said that according to the resolution the MPs should meet voters once every six months and present them with an accounting of his activities within the Georgian parliament. However, none of regional MPs has followed-up.

Lia Khuroshvili, lawyer for the NGO Human Rights Center, emphasizes problems with funds apportioned from the local budgets for the local offices of majority MPs. “According to the resolutions enacted by the Municipality Councils thousands of GEL have been apportioned from district budgets in Kakheti to fund the offices of the MPs. Why should they?! None of bureaus of MPs work in the region,” asked the lawyer.

Kako Budaghashvili, a representative of the MP Nugzar Shoshiashvili, states the accusations are groundless. “Nugzar Shoshiashvili was being operated-on and he actually is in the hospital at the moment of being blamed for not being-on-the-job. He cannot answer your phone-calls for the reason. As for his attempt to collect as much property as possible: this is not true.   Several leaflets are published about his activities in the region; if you meet me in future, I will give it to you,” said Budaghashvili.