Ivanishvil’s unity resembles democratic front

InterPressNews interviewed Director of Georgian Institute of Public Affairs, political scientist Giorgi Margvelshvili about Bidzina Ivanishvili, his new partners, his statements about Russia and Putin.

IPN: After meeting businessman Bidzina Ivanishvili, National Forum leaders declared about appointment of Nodar Javakhishvili as head of Kartu Group, they also said that the parties agreed about cooperation. Republicans and Alasania’s Free Democrats differ from National Forum. What can we think about Ivanishvili’s choice regarding National Forum? Ivanishvili didn’t name National Forum as a presumable partner in his first statement.

G.M.: I have an impression that Ivanishvili tries to create a wide front, and future will show its ideological vectors. Ivanishvili will have to present united program along with Republicans, Free Democrats and National Forum and they will unite, I don’t think it will be difficult as recently in Georgia there have not been different ideas regarding forms of paying taxes, liberalism or conservatory opinions, women’s rights etc. Georgia mainly debates whether democracy or dictatorship must be allowed or the form of elections. I think that what Ivanishvili creates will be more a democratic front than ideological unity.

IPN: Can we presume that Burjanadze and Noghaideli and others will appear in Ivanishvil’s team?

G.M.: We may probably see everyone. It’s difficult for me to say that representatives of political spectrum with very different opinions unite. I repeat, Ivanishvil’s unity resembles democratic front and nothing is excluded in this situation.

IPN: Ivanishvili’s interview with Reuters was published. He made rather interesting statements. They sound optimistic but how would you asses these statements of Ivanishvili? “If we take right steps we can achieve convergence of interests with Russia”, and "With a probability of at least 90 percent we will enter parliament with an absolute majority," and others.

G.M.: Any politicians would make such optimistic statements. This is normal from politicians to give promises. It’s also normal that they don’t fully keep promises.

IPN: How would you assess his statement regarding Putin: “Russian people like Putin. This is their choice and it’s necessary to launch negotiations with them”?

G.M.: I liked the form of the statement. There were some interesting things in the statement. This is a statement of mature politician. He doesn’t stress Putin’s positive sites, but that Putin is Russia’s choice and he respects Russia as a state. It’s difficult to say how Russia will meet such statement of Ivanishvili, but the fact is that Ivanishvili’s statement about Putin was not totally positive.

IPN: Even governmental representatives admit that revocation of citizenship of Ivanishvili and his wife was a big political mistake. How would you assess the government taking amendments to the law, punishing political subject for receiving finances for political activities from the non-citizen of Georgia?

G.M.: the theme of passports and the government’s step is artificial and feeble. Adding the amendments to law, this is very unpleasant. The government says by the actions that they will not allow anyone to the politics. It is a shame, as nobody will understand this on international arena.

Sarkozy spoke about threats of resuming Soviet Union, I have impression that he arrived to the country where Soviet system exists. If Putin is determined to resume Soviet Union, Saakashvili has long ago done it in Georgia. Such paranoia, fear and construction of iron curtains against citizen of France Bidzina Ivanishvili are incomprehensible. It is a fact that we become a closed society, to whom a foreigner is dangerous. It is a bad tendency.

IPN: How processes may develop regarding Ivanishvili’s citizenship? Is it possible that the government will resume citizenship to Ivanishvili and his wife?

G.M.: This is a topic of civil society. We live in the regime of light tyranny. This light tyranny is intimidated now. The Light tyranny ruled the country this way: they and the society existed separately; they were having time and enabled us to exist. Now when the government has hard time, it exerts violence against us, it has no other resources left. It will limit our rights even more.

A lot will depend on the reaction of the society on creation of the soviet Georgia by Saakashvili’s regime. It is such an artificial construction that the governmental team itself must not accept what is happening. The fact is that we are in the shameful position. we have become a country that is afraid of everyone - Russia, Europe, U.S., Republicans, Free Democrats and National Forum and it makes laws stricter saying that it will not allow anyone’s finances enter the country.

Instead of challenging Ivanishvili and fight the inexperienced politician in political ways, he fights Georgian people, trying to oppress Georgias. We thought that Saakashvili knew the rules of political fight, but the fact is that Ivanishvili, inexperienced from the political viewpoint, intimidated experienced politician. I don’t understand why they have to hit a Georgian in head to make him like President Saakashvili. It is a very strange and shameful construction not only for the residents of the country, but for those who observe us with interests from the West.

Koba Bendeliani,

InterPressNews