Georgia Must Restore Democratic Credentials, American Diplomat Says
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
TBILISI, Georgia — A senior American diplomat said President Saakashvili of Georgia must lift emergency rule immediately to restore his democratic credentials.
Mr. Saakashvili, whose government violently broke up opposition protests last week, agreed to call early presidential elections on January 5 but has kept in place a four-day state of emergency.
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza, who will meet with Mr. Saakashvili today, said it was “crucial” that Georgia prepare for “free and fair” elections.
“To make the sure that the process is credibly free and fair it’s so important that the state of emergency be lifted and that all TV broadcasts resume,” he told reporters yesterday in Tbilisi. “To restore the credibility of the democratic process here, these steps need to be taken.”
The European Union on Saturday urged Georgia to cancel the state of emergency, which bans public gatherings and broadcasts by all television stations except for the state channel.
Mr. Saakashvili imposed emergency rule on November 7 after mass protests against the government began November 2 in the capital Tbilisi and ended in a police crackdown five days later.
