ZVIAD GAMSAKHURDIYA - USSR

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005403096
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: June 23, 2015
• Document Release Date: August 26, 2010
• Case Number: F-2009-00705
• Publication Date: July 12, 1991

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Zviad GAMSAKHURDIYA
GAMSAKHURDIYA
LR Article: Georgia's Colorful and Controversial New President
APPROVED FOR
RELEASE^ DATE:
27-Jul-2010
Zviad Gamsakhurdiya's overwhelming victory in Georgia's first direct presidential
election in May 1991 further consolidated his grip on power, strengthening his hand
in high-stakes games with opponents in the republic and at the Soviet center. In
addition to greater political legitimacy, the presidency provides Gamsakhurdiya with
far-ranging powers, including the right to veto parliamentary legislation. He sees
the election results as a ringing endorsement of his policies, especially his approach
to the issue of independence; he has indicated he will use the political momentum
afforded by the election and the 31 March referendum on independence to complete
the renublic's separation from the union.
Instant Agenda
Gamsakhurdiya wasted no time setting his presidential agenda. At a press conference
shortly after the results of the May election were announced, he declared that his
first priorities included ensuring Georgia's independence, seeking international recognition
of Georgia as an independent state, establishing closer contacts with the five other
republics that did not sign the nine-plus-one agreement{1} on 23 April, and strengthening
relations with Western countries. He also indicated that he hoped to meet soon with
Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev to discuss Georgia's campaign and to travel to
Washington to meet with President Bush and elicit US support for Georgia's independence.
1-The nine-plus-one agreement was signed by Gorbachev and the leaders of nine Soviet
republics (Russia, Ukraine, Belorussia, Azerbaijan, and the five Central Asian republics)
in April. Under the accord, Gorbachev agreed to grant the republics greater political
and economic power in exchange for their support for the center's stabilization measures
and their pledge to sign a new union treaty soon.
Supporters Overjoyed, Opponents Downcast
An ardent nationalist and former political prisoner, Gamsakhurdiya enjoys widespread
support among both the general population in Georgia and, perhaps more important,
its new political elite. Members of his Round Table coalition--which, along with
the National Congress coalition, comprises the majority of Georgia's nationalist political
groups--swept to power in legislative elections in late 1990, and Gamsakhurdiya was
elected republic Supreme Soviet chairman shortly thereafter. In April the Georgian
legislature created an executive presidency--for which Gamsakhurdiya had lobbied energetically,
arguing that the center was working with his, enemies to undermine his government--and
His family
 background--his father was one of the republic's most beloved novelists--has also
contributed to Gamsakhurdiya's success: Georgians associate
the family name with the republic's history and tradition and teel comfortable putting
their destiny in Gamsakhurdiya's hands.
Authority Within Republic
Although under recently passed legislation the Georgian Supreme Soviet can impeach
Zviad Gamsakhurdiya with the votes of three-quarters of its membership, the new president--who
served as its chairman from November 1990 to April 1991--has the current legislature
firmly under his control. The body unanimously elected him to serve as interim president
after creating the post last April and then elected Garnsakhurdiya's protege and former
While Gamsakhurdiya's supporters are rejoicing in his election and in the boost
they feel it has given to the republic's independence drive, critics argue that his
victory represents a step back for democracy and warn of a return to authoritarianism
and repression. They also accuse the Georgian president of instigating a personality
cult rivaling that of Stalin. An opponent who has said he fears that Gamsakhurdiya
will bring civil war to the republic has compared the President to h hero in a Chinese
legend who slays the dragon only to become the dragon himself.
Gamsakhurdiya's critics point to his record as republic Supreme Soviet chairman
as cause for concern. During his tenure Gamsakh'urdiya:
o Showed little tolerance for either his political opponents--in particular
the National Congress and its supporters--or Georgia's ethnic minorities.
o Subordinated the mass media to government control.
o Introduced a system of local government that gave extensive powers to
local prefects appointed by and answerable to him.
o Proposed but later amended--as the result of much criticism--an onerous
citizenship law that would have restricted republic citizenship and property
ownership to those whose ancestors settled in Georgia before 1801.
At his first postelection press conference, the new president did little to enhance
his image as a committed democrat when he ordered a reporter from the US-sponsored
Radio Liberty news service--which he has accused of being, along with the Wall Street
Journal, "an instrument of the Kremlin"--to leave the gathering and subsequently called
the journalist a provocateur
Most alarmed by Gamsakhurdiya's chauvinism is the republic's non-Georgian population,
particularly the South Ossetians, whose campaign for autonomy in the past several
months has resulted in violent unrest, creating a serious public relations problem
for the Georgian leadership. Gamaakhurdiya has claimed that South Ossetia is a "Bolshevik
invention" and has frequently referred to Ossetians and their leaders as "criminals
and traitors"; he insists that he has been forced to take exceptionally harsh measures
against them because they are in league with Soviet authorities. Although his strong
 stand enjoys broad public support, Gamsakhurdiya now appears to be softening his rhetoric,
probably in an attempt to overcome negative publicity abroad. On 23 April, for example,
he claimed that the only way to reach a democratic solution in South Ossetia was to
hold a referendum among Georgian residents of Ossetian nationality on the question
of reconstructing their autonomous oblast, which was officially abolished in December
1990.
Rocky Relations With the Center
Gamsakhurdiya has been among the staunchest of republic leaders in rebuffing attempts
by the center to keep the present union intact. Stressing that he will not allow
Moscow to dupe Georgia as he alleges it has the Baltic states, Gamsakhurdiya has repeatedly
warned the center that if it attempts to repress the Georgian independence movement
with force--as it did in Latvia and Lithuania last January--he will call for a popular
uprising.
amsakhurdiya has indicated
on several recent occasions that he wants to iscuss how to peacefully resolve relations
between Georgia and the center, telling TASS on 18 May, for example, that positive
changes were under way and "points of contact have been found" on some issues. He
continues to insist, nevertheless, that talks between the two sides should be conducted
as between two countries, not between a republic and the union government. He has
rejected the idea of Georgia's signing any union treaty and has categorically dismissed
the nine-plus-one agreement.
Although Gamsakhurdiya has in the past been openly contemptuous of Gorbachev, he
now appears to be trying to downplay their differences. In interviews last fall and
earlier this year, he argued that Gorbachev was carrying on the imperialist tradition
of Lenin and Stalin and credited the United States, not Gorbachev, with perestroyka.
Relations With Other Republic Leaders
Gamsakhurdiya is trying to improve Georgia's relations--particularly its economic
ties--to the other Soviet republics as well as his own relationship with other republic
leaders. He has promoted a closer alliance among the republics in the Caucasus, for
example, and recently offered to serve as mediator between Armenia and Azerbaijan
 Angling for an Invitation to the United States Gamsakhurdiya and his supporters
are currently laying the groundwork for a proposed visit to the United States. Although
initial indications were that Gamsakhurdiya hoped to travel to the United States and
meet with President Bush this summer--his foreign minister discussed the possibility
of such a meeting during his trip to Washington in earl June--recent reports suggest
that the r i ns are now ho in fora visit this fall.
Gamsakhurdiya's opponents are alarmed by his plans to visit the United States.
They warn that the main objective of his proposed trip is public relations and maintain
that he has skillfully manipulated rece vosfts by US officials to a6ve the im ression
that the US Government supports him.
The Economy and Prime Minister Sigua
Zviad Gamsakhurdiya is aggressively pursuing economic ties to other Soviet republics
and several foreign nations. He insists that the Soviet Union has intentionally isolated
Georgia from world economic processes and that the Georgian economic situation will
improve when it is no longer isolated. Gamsakhurdiya, who has no real background
in economic decision making, advocates a rapid transition to a market economy and
recognizes that Georgia must restructure its economy in order to attract Western investment.
 LDA LR 91-008D
12 July 1991