This is a joint declaration of responsibilities by the political opposition in Georgia on behalf of the people of Georgia.

The Georgian people are suffering at the hands of the Saakashvili regime: human rights have been abused, free speech stifled, democratic values crushed and the rule of law abandoned. The current government no longer represents the will of the people.

We declare our determination to bring about change so that the Georgian people can share in the promise of freedom, democracy and liberty. We set out here our view about the failures of the current government, our vision for Georgia and the next steps for making our vision a reality.

Together, we are committed to a new constitutional settlement for Georgia, which will provide balance between governmental branches, creation of European type democratic, wealth Georgian state based on national and cultural traditions, which will based on:

1. Independent and fair elections.

Equal representation for all parties in the Electoral Commission. No use of government funds for electioneering and transparent party funding. The electoral laws must be fair and processes transparent and streamlined. Elections, not appointment for local officials.

2. Independent justice system.

Independent judicial authority, which will be free from interference from executive and legislative government.

3.  Civilian oversight of the police system.

Transparency and public monitoring of police system. Proper funding for the Public Defender system.

4. Free Media.

An end to government interference in the media. Equal access to the media for opposition groups. Independent editorial control of media organisations. Transparency of owners of media recourses.

5.  Transparent Government.

Independent audits of government expenditure. Full disclosure of business interests by politicians and officials. Parliamentary oversight of government decisions.

6.  Non-admission of Political Persecution

Termination of claims of political nature and discharge of political and conscience prisoners. Non-admission of any manifestation of political prosecution in the future.

7. Inviolability of Property.

Elaboration and enforcement of private property legislative protection mechanisms.  Recovery of illegally seized property and restoration of rights of the injured within the legal framework.

8. A balanced foreign policy.

Closer ties with our Western allies and a continued path towards the EU and NATO. Putting relations with Russia on a new footing of mutual respect and the practical resolution of disputes.

9. Free Economy

Economy oriented on open market, which furthers real, competitive business and the expansion of the international sales leading from pseudo liberalism to free economy.

Creation of institutional guarantees for business competitive environment;

Promoting national production and small and medium-sized business.

10. Restoration of territorial Integrity.

Settlement of the problems only peacefully, initiation of direct dialogue with the Abkhazian and the Ossetian. Re-establishment of trust and destroyed bridges. Providing their worthy return and cohabitation in the united Georgia.
The county is facing fatal outcomes. Territories were lost, the Russian military representation grew, Russian military bases are being built on the territory of our country, the perspective of conflict settlement was postponed for an unlimited period of time. If the policy pursued by the government is continued there will be no prospects of regulating relations with the Abkhazian and the Ossetian.

We believe in a real change to bring about a government based on the values of tolerance, respect, integrity, democracy, and above all honesty. That is why the opposition parties have come together to agree this joint declaration, united in our belief that we can build a better future for our country.

This is our vision for Georgia. We submit it to the people. Let them decide.

The failures of the Georgian government

The present government no longer represents the people of Georgia. The President and his cronies corruptly exploit their personal power over the agencies of government in a manner that disregards law and the constitutional authority of their offices.

1. This is a corrupt government.

Citizens who criticize the government, support its political opponents, compete with the private interests of its leaders or simply hold property desired by those leaders are arrested on contrived charges, denied civil rights and otherwise threatened with government sanction until they desist, comply or pay arbitrary sums into government controlled accounts.

2.  The justice system is biased against the people.

Judges, on pain of facing government or police sanction against themselves or their families, are instructed by the regime’s leaders to render verdicts favourable to the government or the interests of those leaders and deny due process to those whom these leaders wish to coerce.

3.  This is an undemocratic government.

State funds are used to support election campaigns. In the January 2008 Presidential Elections, ballot box stuffing was widespread. 23% of counts observed by OSCE observers were assessed as bad or very bad. In 8% of counts observed, the OSCE witnessed tampering with voter list entries, election results, or results protocols. Despite all this, Saakashvili won by just 3%. There is widespread intimidation of the electorate. Voters are threatened by ruling party representatives with police or government sanctions if they do not support the party’s candidates.

4.  The Government is guilty of extortion.

Businesses are extorted with threats of tax fines, license denials, property expropriation or loss of access to government services to pay arbitrary sums into government controlled accounts, invest in arbitrary projects sponsored by the regime’s leaders, or cease competition with those leaders’ interests. Property of those who politically oppose the ruling government party, contribute to such opposition, or challenge the interests of the party or its leaders is expropriated, subjected to arbitrary fines or encumbered by government sanctions.

5.  The state sanctions torture and brutality.

Persons arrested or detained for investigations are physically or psychologically tortured while in custody to extract contrived admissions of guilt or force actions commanded by the regime’s officials. Police and Prosecutors carry out illicit arrests, brutal interrogations and contrived criminal proceedings with assurance from the regime’s topmost leaders that their actions will not be subjected to investigation or legal redress and, indeed, such investigations or redress do not occur unless those involved subsequently lose favour with the regime.

6.  There is no media freedom.

National media outlets are prohibited by regime officials from investigating or reporting on matters adverse to or critical of the regime or its leaders and from allowing the ruling party’s critics or political opponents uncensored access to the public. Since President Saakashvili seized power, Georgia’s media freedom has gone backward – it is now rated as the 120th least free in the world. Journalists, pollsters and public opinion makers are coerced by threat of police or government sanction against themselves or their families from pursuing or reporting on matters critical of or embarrassing to the regime or its leaders.

7.  This is a government of cronies.

Personnel filling influential government positions are selected for personal loyalty and obedience to the regime’s topmost leaders and are dismissed if they fail to carry out these leaders’ directives, regardless of their legitimacy. Decisions of Parliament, the Electoral Commission, the courts, the country’s regulatory agencies and other organs of government reflect the dictates of Saakashvili and his immediate cronies, reinforced by the evident capability of these leaders to arrange false arrests, contrived charges, artificial fines and physical brutality.

8.  The government operates a series of secret slush funds.

Funds extracted from citizens and businesses through threat or coercion are accumulated in off-budget accounts administered without audit or transparency by the regime’s top leaders. They spend lavishly from government coffers on propaganda programs designed to reinforce their hold on power but are of little value to actual economic or social development.

9.  The government’s failures are stifling a free economy.

The regime has extorted and arbitrarily manipulated businesses and commercial affairs to a degree that has eliminated trust, killed commercial enthusiasm and depressed willingness to invest.

10.  The government’s foreign policy is irrational and dangerous.

This regime has pursued a foreign policy with an arrogance that unnecessarily heightened tensions with Georgia’s neighbours, destroyed valuable trade relationships and distressed potential allies. They openly pursued armed conflict as a means to address territorial disputes with Russia and engaged in a disastrous war that inflicted enormous damage, misery and loss of life.

Our vision for Georgia

We believe that the restoration of civil liberties and a return to the progressive development of the country are the best achieved by conducting early Presidential and Parliamentary elections, in which we pledge to pursue a platform of wholesale reform in order to restore the democratic process. Our goals are:

• Restoration of territorial integrity, set as a real priority country’s internal and foreign policy;

• Formation of modern Georgian army in accordance with NATO standards and providing of non-interference in domestic
policy processes.

• Move of educational system to national educational traditions;

• Special status of Georgian orthodox church;

• Development of Georgian culture and science;

• Protection of cultural-historical inheritance;

• Protection of the state language;

• Return of refugees and prioritizing their support; Enforcement of special programs of social security for the refugees;

• Amnesty for military personnel participating in conflicts, except for the persons who committed an outrage on humanity;

• Protection of Georgians living abroad and establishing close relationship with the Diaspora;

• Fundamental reform in the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Release of special intelligence service from political gendarme. Police
and penal agencies will be subject to independent review of practices and independent investigation of alleged abuses;

• Judges and other officers of the court will be trained in proper practice, subject to open peer review of their performance and vigorously prosecuted for ethical and procedural violations;

• Penitentiary system shall be released form police supervision and reformed. Improvement of the conditions of the prisoners by law and by using benefits under law;

• Government intervention in the editorial, investigative or reporting activities of any media outlet must cease immediately – and equitable uncensored use of the Public Broadcast Channel must be immediately granted to opposition political parties. Media freedom from governmental censorship and equitable access to media outlets for all social and political interest groups will be assured;

• We provide competition of the political parties and participation of opposition in public administration to regulate vital affairs of state under law;

• Georgia will continue its pursuit of an effective market-oriented economy and international trade; will stimulate real business and protect private property. An effective mechanism must be established for the independent arbitration of commercial and civil disputes which is available to businesses and citizens. Prioritizing agriculture, tourism and light industry. Georgia as the country of organic products;

• Expenditures and financial practices of all government agencies will be routinely audited by an independent Chamber of Control, which is properly funded and empowered to conduct this task. Stability and professionalism in the civil service will be promoted and appointments will reflect merit rather than allegiance or affiliation to political parties;

• The actions and budgets of all government agencies will be subject to Parliamentary oversight and approval;

• The Electoral Commission and electoral process will be formulated to ensure equitable representation of all political interests and open, independent and auditable oversight of elections and their results. Equitable and transparent rules enabling the lawful financing of political campaigns and parties will be put in place;

• Elections of local officials will be organised as the preferred alternative to central appointment of local authorities. Election rules will favour pluralism in Parliament to the greatest extent practical. Georgia will strive to achieve Western-style standards of multi-party democracy and democratic governance, closer ties with Europe and eventual membership of the European Union and other Western alliances;

We are committed to making this platform a reality – through constitutional and democratic process if allowed – and through continued public protest and further civil disobedience.

We strongly suggest that President Saakashvili can now best serve his country by stepping down and encouraging the free and fair election of a new administration.

The President must resign immediately, also must resign Interior Minister, Minister of Justice, Tbilisi Mayor, The Head of Supreme Court, The Head of Election Commission and face an open investigation by the Georgian Public Defender of their actions while in office.

Protests against the Saakashvili regime will cease only when measures readily visible to Georgian society has been taken which end the regime’s abuse of power and violation of civil liberties and ensure real democratic processes in Georgia.