Revival Threatens to Boycott Elections

(Tbilisi, July 22, 2003, Civil Georgia) – Chairman of the Parliamentary Revival faction Jemal Gogitidze, while speaking at the special session of the Parliament on July 22, threatened to boycott Parliamentary elections scheduled for November 2, in case of implementation of the US-suggested election guidelines.

The opposition Revival party demands 4 seats in the Central Election Commission, while other opposition parties, except the Industrialists, who demand two seats, agree to have only one seat in the commission, as considered by the US-suggested guidelines, delivered in Georgia by the former Secretary of State James Baker.
 
The Revival party represents the interests of the leader of the Adjarian Autonomous Republic of Adjara. The Revival’s refusal to participate in the elections would mean boycott of the entire Autonomous Republic of Adjara.

“In this case [Adjarian boycott] the legitimacy of the elections will be questioned,” Jemal Gogitidze said.
 
MP Vitali Khazaradze, representative of the pro-governmental alliance, fixed the position of the pro-governmental parties, saying they would not support the election code, until the opposition parties reach an agreement.