Letter from Tbilisi

November 7, 2007, Tbilisi, Georgia

The crowded traffic in Tbilisi came to a total standstill that afternoon as some 2,000 protesters wearing surgical masks thronged the thoroughfare chanting slogans, blaring horns, and waving Georgian flags. It was clear from the back of my taxi that major changes were afoot.

The surgical masks had appeared like an instant fad, an all-too-real necessity for protesters to protect themselves from tear gas.

The protesters were calling for the resignation of President Mikhail Saakashvili and for early elections in the spring of 2008. The demonstrations were largely peaceful, however, so the sudden police crackdown—with the gas, truncheons, water cannons, and rubber bullets—came as a deep shock to the Georgian public. More than 500 protesters were injured, some severely, and a popular opposition television station was invaded and almost destroyed by special military forces.

In the immediate aftermath, the President declared a State of Emergency in this small, vibrant, Western-leaning country, claiming that hostile Russian intelligence operatives had been behind the protests. Public reaction was mixed: disgust over dramatic television footage of the police action led many to question the government's tactics and motives. President Saakashvili, under strong pressure at home and abroad, suddenly reversed course and surprised his opponents by declaring the early elections the protestors had demanded. Presidential elections would now be January 5th, rather than in the fall as planned, and a plebiscite the same day would allow the public to determine whether Parliamentary elections should be held in the spring or fall.

I was there to set up an ISC project for the International Foundation for Election Systems to ensure that Georgian voters of all backgrounds are informed about election procedures and motivated to participate. In the course of 48 hours, we went from enjoying a leisurely start-up period to looking at accomplishing three months of work in just a week's time.

I was amazed and humbled by the professionalism and energy our Georgian counterparts exhibited in adjusting to the new circumstances. In short order, our local partner developed a comprehensive nationwide voter education and mobilization campaign of just 45 days, and organized a series of 20 local television debates to air in the three weeks before the Presidential election. And our local staff initiated an ambitious, competitive grant round to support media and civil society organizations in conducting pre-election coverage and advocacy activities.

Georgia, just four years removed from the Rose Revolution that toppled the old Soviet guard and set the country on a path toward democracy, now stands at a new crossroads. I was privileged to witness these dramatic events and the Georgian people as they met unforeseen challenges head on. ISC is playing a critical role helping Georgians ensure free and fair elections that are responsive to the needs of all citizens—enabling them to take a direct hand in shaping their common future.