“Achievements” of Saakashvili regime are the myths disproved by elections

The elections which have passed in Georgia convincingly showed that the Georgian people are for a new political policy for the state. It once again proves that the loud statements about outstanding “achievements” of Saakashvili regime are more the myths inflated by the politically committed mass media. The secretary general of party “Democratic movement – United Georgia” Vakhtang Kolbaya told about these widespread myths in interview to “The world and we” shortly before the elections.

There is the opinion that Georgia at Saakashvili's board managed to reach the sharp decrease in indicators of crime, in particular, in the corruption sphere. Is it so? How the fight against corruption is carried out in Georgia?

- It is very loudly told that big successes in the corruption sphere are reached. Yes, corruption at the lowest steps considerably decreased. But it moved from the first step of a ladder to very high hierarchies and became generally the elite corruption. If earlier the petty officials, clerks, performers had something, but now there is no such practically. Introduction of a principle of one window promoted it. Only in a few minutes it is possible to get the driver's license, other documents, having paid for it the sum which you paid before to someone’s pocket.

But corruption regarding big business is concentrated in hands who has the power, high officials. It is sugar, wood, construction business. In the sphere of construction business all declared tenders are won by the relatives of high officials for some reason. In the city the father of the secretary of Security Council Giga Bokeria is engaged in construction generally. As they say, the wood and beer business is supervised by prime minister Vano Mirabishvili. The people approached to the power are engaged in big business. Pharmaceutical and pharmacy business is monopolized by two-three firms. And practically the antimonopoly law stays idle because the firm which is pharmaceutical is engaged both in release of medicine and realization through pharmacy network and insurance that confirm the aforesaid – there is almost no antimonopoly law in Georgia.

And when all profits and income are concentrated in hands of people who are approached to the power, so is it possible to speak about the absence of corruption? What occurs actually? These firms pay a considerable bribe in the budget, and some speak, not only in the budget. As a result, they increased the cost of medicine. Therefore the disabled people, patients, people of advanced age, having small pension, can't buy these medicine. And because these firms pay all the considerable sums to the Fund of ruling party (“United national movement”) for construction of any bridge or a fountain that is naturally reflected in price rise of medicine, bread, etc.

Georgia has the highest prices for gasoline. It is said that close relatives of the president are engaged in gasoline. I don’t have the confirming materials, but I say it, being guided by expert opinions, materials which are printed in the press. Here is such situation in the corruption sphere.
Though, everything looks quite attractive from outside. Recently the Justice House was opened in which the main services of social appointment are concentrated which serve the population of Tbilisi.

Any statements, inquiries receive, without leaving this building having paid a certain sum. But as a whole there is the above-stated situation in the corruption sphere. So, corruption disappeared at a low level to some extent, but concentrated in elite circles in large volumes.

What are the main results of reform of State Automobile Inspection and law-enforcement system in Georgia?

- There is no the State Automobile Inspection in Georgia. There is a police, the functions of which differ radically from the function of officers of State Automobile Inspection”. If you stopped or parked not in appropriate place, the special private service “City Park” will be engaged in you, which has the right to supervise this situation. As the spiteful tongues tell, through the mayor, through figureheads his people are engaged in this business. And if you put the car not in appropriate place, they will ship the car on the special vehicle in pair of seconds. And then it is necessary to pay 70-80 laris (50-60 dollars) that to return it. As to State Automobile Inspection, in this respect there are some conveniences. If earlier you didn't know, on what corner you are trapped by State Automobile Inspection officers, at what they will cavil and how many it will be necessary to pay, so now it isn't present. Thus the penalties became tougher. It would be necessary to pay about 70 dollars for crossing the double solid line.

But as a whole the reform took place in law enforcement agencies not without serious consequences. All old employees were dismissed from the Ministry of Internal Affairs system, and together with it both experience and knowledge left. But they weren't necessary to the authorities because they (authorities) introduced new methods of conducting inquiry, investigation. Everything was done in a new way. And, naturally, they had no value to address to skilled people.

Let's take the court. The judge, after reforming of judicial system actually pronounces a sentence and new laws allow it, taking into account the evidence of one witness. Even if this witness is the interested person, the representative of police, it is enough that the conviction was pronounced. Big inquiries, big investigatory actions aren't necessary.

Firstly, the competent people are necessary to lead them. They aren't present. Secondly, it appeared unnecessary, that the prosecutor accused competently and the lawyer protected professionally because the judges received orders from the party bonzes and pronounced a sentence which suits them. Therefore there is no need for the qualified inspectors and judges, prosecutors and lawyers actually in Georgia, as everything was custom-made. And this praised judicial reform was that it wasn't necessary to judges to know something – there is the code of laws before them. And they will read that number Criminal Procedure Code that would be specified. Usually, if it is necessary to them, a sentence took out in a few minutes and if it is necessary, they could investigate the case during the years.

Besides, there is an agreement possibility between the defendant and prosecutor's office about the monetary compensation, so-called “procedural agreement”. The defendant originally condemned for two months to make the pressure on him, to extend the recognition. Thus they created such conditions that these people accept any recognitions – though that they dug a tunnel to Bombay or committed murder somewhere in Guatemala. And, it is natural, then, having made recognitions, they went on that it awarded suspended sentence or a penalty for any sum, considerable sum – from 5 thousand dollars and ending with millions.

Therefore, naturally, there was no need for the judges to know what actually occurs. Besides, the age of judges after reform is indicative. In the normal countries the people of mature age become the judges, after all the main state of mind of the judge should start with as far as he feels a situation, as far as he feels an essence and spirit of a crime as the judge feels responsibility for an accepted sentence. And here 25-27 year-old boys and girls, without having any life experience, pronounce a sentence from 3 months to 25 years. Thus they are absolutely not familiar with life, with its problems. And these people became the judges. The law was specially passed that people from 25 years can be the judges. It was made to create a new community of zombie people who having closed eyes can be ready to do anything, if it orders them “native” National party. Such situation developed in law-enforcement system.

How the mass actions against cruel treatment of prisoners in prisons affected the results of elections? Do such actions in prisons are one of characteristic signs of Saakashvili regime?

- Before elections mass actions passed in the country against occurred in prisons. And having appearing on television and other mass actions, Saakashvili spoke – the penal system has malfunction.

But without saying, that this system is a link of one general chain of law enforcement agencies. It is connected with judicial, police system, public prosecutor's supervision. Therefore, when we speak about the collapse of penal system, it is necessary to say that completely the law-enforcement system didn't sustain the check by time. As it is accepted, the police catches, the prosecutor condemns, judges pass the decision. And the penal system carries out the made decision on detention term.

These are four links of one chain connected together – if one part failed, all system failed. Because one doesn't exist without another. Therefore, saying that the penal system showed the real face, it is necessary to speak not only about it, but also about all system as a whole. And after all the authorities were proud of the reforms and these reforms were praised by our western friends. But they don't want to admit that the system had malfunction as the real, live people became the victims.

Naturally, these latest events affected the elections. The power felt freely before mass actions, and it even told softly. They constantly adopted laws which toughened the regime for opposition parties. It concerned their financing, activity of party bodies on places. And consequently the election fund of the majority of parties was extremely limited. They hoped that will achieve the victories by falsification and this victory will be confirmed by the West. But the appearance of these videos and mass actions were similar to effect of become torn bomb. They didn't expect it.

But actions of the authorities didn't change after that. They continued the mass arrests of people. Some days before elections about 100 people from “Georgian dream” were detained. Thus, they were the chiefs of staffs of polling stations, districts, people who are the leaders of this movement on places – all were sent in prison on far-fetched charges. That is they were practically put away from an electoral process. One of the heads of Kakha Kaladze staff was arrested as, allegedly, he put insults to any journalist. As it appeared, he didn't communicate with this journalist, wasn’t familiar with him and didn't see him. But the police came and brought him accusations for drawing of a verbal insult. Such occasions are used.
It happens that they took, detained and released. But the fact of detention has psychological influence on people. As to get to prison at Saakashvili's power and nobody had guarantee that was shown in known video reel. Thus, the law enforcement agencies became the tool of prosecution of opposition, prosecution of demonstrators during the mass actions against cruel treatment in prisons, the tool of repressions in power hands. About what success of praised reforms in the law-enforcement sphere is it possible to speak?!

The regime of forcing of a situation and intimidation of people was the main method of work of National movement. They intimidated everywhere and everyone. It is a characteristic sign of Saakashvili regime. Certainly, the prisons aren't the holiday hotels. But in any case, that was occurred in our prisons is beyond any normal perception. It is the deviations from normal mentality. Such people were taken for work in prisons or they did them. And, naturally, it is absolutely healthy that population had such reaction to such video and especially the youth.

It is the first case when the youth showed the indignation in recent years and some days didn't leave the streets. And the youth is that force whom all should be considered always.

But the main thing has occurred – the opposition forces and citizens of Georgia could replace this power and made everything to return the development of our society to normally, humanitarian, human course where the main thing is the ethical standards.