Georgia Re-Elects Controversial President

Georgia, a nation of just under 5 million people in the Caucasus region, elected Mikhail Saakashvili to a second term as president Saturday in a contest the opposition characterized as fraudulent and unfair. Saakashvili, who was first elected in 2004 as part of Georgia's pro-western Rose Revolution, was thought to be a pro-western leader until a series of crackdowns on opposition forces late last year brought his democratic advocacy into question. Saakashvili leads Georgia's National Movement Party and defeated another anti-Russian figure, former Georgian President Edward Shevardnadze.

Acting President Nino Burjanadze has been filling the presidential post since Saakashvili stepped down in late November amid plummeting popularity and charges of intolerance by opposition parties. An International Crisis Group report published less than a month ago says that Saakashvili's government used "repressive and disproportionate" measures to stifle opposition protests in the weeks leading up to his resignation.

After initially sweeping into office on the promise of advancing democratic principles, Saakashvili made efforts to crack down on organized crime and government corruption. He began to lose popularity, though, after blocking opposition efforts to organize protests to his governmental policies. After a reported 100,000 protestors demonstrated against the government in November, Saakashvili shut down the opposition's television outlet and declared a state of emergency that was subsequently lifted nine days later. As calls for his resignation increased from nearly a dozen opposition groups organized as the National Council of Opposition Organizations, Saakashvili called for early elections to be held shortly after the New Year began.

Saakashvili's electoral victory is likely to irritate Russia, which has of late attempted to reassert its influence on Georgia and other states along the Russian periphery. The Russian government has opposed Georgia's overtures to the west, including the Georgian government's efforts to gain membership in NATO and the European Union. Tensions have repeatedly flared between Georgia and Russia, with the Georgian government accusing Russia of firing a missile into Georgian territory late last year and with Russian backing for Georgia's secessionist region of South Ossetia. A report from the International Crisis Group called on Russia to stop supporting the break away region's government and to recognize Georgia's sovereignty.

Saakashvili has made no effort to hide his distaste for Russian meddling in Georgian affairs, and Russian President Vladimir Putin has responded in kind by supporting opposition to Saakashvili and his government. Initial reports from Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty indicate the elections were essentially valid, meaning court challenges to Saakashvili will not likely change the result. Saakashvili will continue moving closer to the west, which will bring his treatment of opposition groups under increasing scrutiny.

Sources: CIA World Factbook, International Crisis Group Europe Report Number 189, International Crisis Group Europe Report Number 183, Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty