Archive File
To the European
Parliament, 6-th Jan. 1993 To His Highness, dr.
Otto von Habsburg, Member of the European Parliament; March 1,
1993. To
Honorable Senator Deconcini and Representative Hoyer; March
4th, 1993 An Appeal to the
Word Community of Nations; March 14th, 1993 An Appeal to the
IGFM conference; March 17th, 1993. To His Excellency,
President of the USA Mr. Bill Clinton; May 3, 1993 To His Excellency
President William Clinton President of the United States of
America; June 1, 1993 To His Excellency
President of the Republic of Turkey Mr. Suleiman Demirel;
1993, 3-th June To His Excellency
President Jaques Chirac The President of R.P.R.; July 16th,
1993 An
Appeal to the President of the United States of America Mr.
William J. Clinton; September 7th, 1993
To the
European Parliament, 6-th Jan. 1993
BAK 6/23
L 2929 Luxembourg For as
long as I can remember, through the cold, dark night of
totalitarianism, the West shone as a beacon of hope for all
mankind. Separated by oceans, mountains and once the
impenetrability Iron curtain, still and all despite all the
artificial obstacles created by man, Western democratic principles
and traditions pierced the veil of despotism. The principles
enshrined in the Greek concepts of democracy, in the British Magna
Carta, the American Bill of Rights, the French cry for liberte,
egalite, fraternite have inspired and will continue to inspire
generations of men and women devoted to the principles of justice
and freedom. Many have suffered and died and will continue to
perish in pursuit of these venerable ideals. In this spirit, I appeal to the members of the
European Parliament to consider my request to visit the citadels
of freedom and democracy of Europe: France, where my fathers book
have been read and re-read by generations of Frenchmen and also
England whose masterpieces of literature have been translated over
the years by our family into the Georgian language. Most painful is the accusation that
I, who tried to defend the delicate flame of liberty, somehow
tried to suppress it and that I, who took part in first free,
multi-party elections conducted in Georgia after a spiritual
drought of 70 years, in some way perverted democracy and
democratic principles. This is Orwellian. There are those who have called me an
"international terrorist", as did the present leader of
the ruling junta in the Republic of Georgia. Terrorism is
repugnant to me. I carry no
weapons except the bombshell of truth and the Truth, and only the
Truth, shall make us free. I
carry no weapons, yet my detractors know that through the
centuries, the pen has been and will continue to be mightier than
sword. History will be my
judge. Men of good will,
objective members of the press and historians will finally put the
record straight. With
optimism and faith in the strength of democratic and humanitarian
principles, I believe that you will not turn down my request. You can contact me in Grozny,
Chechen Republic by FAX 00-8-731404525. Sincerely,
Zviad Gamsakhurdia
President of the Republic of Georgia in exile
To His
Highness, dr. Otto von Habsburg,
Member of the European Parliament; March 1, 1993.
Your Highness! Your great support towards suffering
Georgian people and it's legal Government in exile encourages me
to attract your attention on some problem, which arises before us.
Now all conscious and competent Western analysts begin to
comprehend, that in the former Soviet Union no serious political
changes and reforms have taken place, that former soviet
nomenclatura and KGB still exists in more disguised "democratic"
clothes and their main purpose is to deceive the West with talking
about illusive "changes" and "democratization".
Soviet imperialism exists as well and has same aims towards the
West, and those western leaders, who believe their vows about
"friendly" intentions, are blind and self deceiving. But
along with well-known Leninist "democrats" with communist
and komsomol past, there are also more confident agents,
who apparently belong to "intelligentsia", and
even to the former "dissident movement", among
which there were also hidden collaborationists in soviet time. Now, when Shevardnadze is
unveiled and discredited at last in the world, as political
adventurer and communist criminal, as the head of criminal junta,
in Georgia there is another, more dangerous figure, his closest
ally and right hand Giorgi Chanturia, leader of so called "National
Democratic Party of Georgia", who does not belong to
"parliament" and "government". It is more hard
to unveil his activities, because he has better camouflage- the
name of former "dissident" and "political
prisoner". "National Democratic Party" (NDP)
which he leads, has nothing common with true patriotism and
democracy. This is the type of semi-criminal, semi-fascist
collaborationist organization, created by KGB, ally of the odious
criminal organization "Mkhedrioni" in Georgia and
"right radicals" (NDP) in Germany, who wrote me a
protest, when Chanturia was detained for criminal violence,
erecting barricades before the Parliament building for armed fight
against the legal Government and Parliament in October 1991 (the
copy of that protest will be sent to you). Chanturia being in
prison of KGB in 1983 was an agent of administration and
received salary from it, the document about it was published in
Georgian press. When he refused that fact and stated, that
document was false, he was summoned on teledebates by the chief of
the prison T. Dilibasashvili, but Chanturia rejected
summon, because the fear of truth. Chanturia was financed
from Moscow by Shevardnadze and KGB in fight against
the elected Government of Georgia, his "party" has taken
active participation in putch and coup d'etat, also in
repressions, watching, threatening, executions. Now he continues
his collaboration with the criminal junta, at the same time he and
his "party" help Shevardnadze against the
opposition, who are against the new Russian-Georgian agreement,
which deprives Georgia it's independence. Seeing that Shevardnadze is discredited in the
West, junta and it's patrons from Moscow send Chanturia to
Europe as "democratic" leader to deceive western
political and military leaders concerning situation of Georgia and
about the true intentions of Shevardnadze. Chanturia
and his "deputy" Mamuka Giorgadze were welcomed
in NATO and were received by NATO officials in Brussels. Besides
they managed to deceive the General Secretary of the Christian
Democratic International, Mr. Henry Louis, who promises to
receive their party as a member of International. We ask you to help us and inform General
Secretary of Christian Democratic International, how dangerous
is to receive KGB criminals and party which has nothing
common with neither Christianity, nor Democracy in such respectful
organization. We would like
to know also, if it is possible, with whom have Chanturia
and Giorgadze personal relations in the NATO, to inform
them about these impostors. With
great respect and gratitude
your Zviad Gamsakhurdia
President of Georgia in exile March 1, 1993.
To Honorable
Senator Deconcini and Representative Hoyer; March 4th, 1993
Co-chairmen, Commission of
Security
and Cooperation in Europe United
States Congress
Honorable Senator Deconcini and Representative Hoyer, I have been informed that the
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki
Commission), which you co-chair is planning a hearing on the
Caucasus on March 8, 1993. As the legally and democratically
elected first President of Georgia, currently in exile, I would
like to share with you my concerns about the current situation in
Georgia on the eve of the hearing that you will preside next
Monday. Although there are
several dimensions to the current crisis in Georgia, I would like
to focus in this letter on three specific issues which I trust
will be of particular interest to your hearing. These are: the
current crisis of legitimacy in Georgia, the violations of human
rights of the Georgian people, and implications of the crisis in
Georgia on regional stability and the world order. As I have stated in several
communications to the Heads of State of CSCE, the United Nations
and to the Congress of the United States, the legitimate and
democratically elected government of Georgia, recognized by 28
states, among them by USA, was overthrown in a military coup in
January 1992. The junta that seized power is composed of former
communists, the "mafia" and individuals with a clear
criminal record. The coup that eventually led to my exile was the
culmination of a series of attempts to overthrow the government by
force. These attempts started soon after the political coalition
that I led won the legislative elections in October 1990.
Following those elections, the authorities of the former Soviet
Union provided moral and material support to those
collaborationist elements that wanted to overthrow the legitimate
government of Georgia because of its declared policy of
independence from the Soviet Union. The so-called ethnic conflicts
in Georgia at the time (e.g., in "South Ossetia") were
instigated by Kremlin. President Gorbachev personally
threatened me with dire consequences in Ossetia if I refused to
sign the Union Treaty which he has proposing to all former
republics. In addition, Kremlin organized informational war and
unprecedented campaign of slander against me and legal government,
which was repeated in some western mass media. Perhaps the single most important personality behind
the military coup in Georgia is Eduard Shevardnadze. I know
that Mr. Shevardnadze is well regarded in the West for his
role in "liberating" Eastern Europe, etc., and it is
very difficult to convince western leaders of his complicity in
the terrible events that have unfolded in Georgia over the past
two years. Fortunately, as more information has gradually surfaced
in the West about the events since Mr. Shevardnadze's return to
Georgia in march 1992, the true nature of the man behind the mask
of a "democrat" is emerging. The fact is that despite
the promises he made to his friends in the West, Mr.Shevardnadze
and his junta have been unable to normalize the situation in
Georgia, and have had to resort to violence, terror and gross
violations of the human rights of the population to maintain
control of the major cities, while most the country remains
outside their control. These facts have been documented by
independent observers and the media. The most vivid account of the
evens since Mr Shevardnadze's return to Georgia can be seen in a
television production entitled 'Shevardnadze Uncovered'
which appeared on the Discovery channel in the United
States a few weeks ago. Having been exposed, Mr.Shevardnadze and
his comrades are again resorting to disinformation by claiming
that I bribed the American television station to show this film! The fundamental problem standing in
the way of peace and democracy in Georgia today is the lack of
legitimacy of the group in power. Despite the recent attempts to
infuse come legitimacy through "elections", the group in
power is still not accepted by the population because the
"elections" were not seen by the people as free and
democratic. As the CSCE report on the elections states "even
representatives of political parties participating in the election
conceded that conditions were far from ideal". The various
reports also document many "irregularities". From the
perspective of population, the election was not free because
various methods were used to intimidate the voters. Again, the
CSCE report on the election quotes an independent and highly
respected editor of 'Iberia-Spektr' that "people were
frightened and were being forced to participate in the election,
something that never took place in Georgia even under
communism". The CSCE
report also states that "uniformity of voters' attitudes
towards Shevardnadze and Gamsakhurdia was somewhat
suspicious... after ten months of watching the state- controlled
media, they appeared to sense that they were supposed to vote for Shevardnadze...and
that this was the message they should convey to the foreign
election monitors." Furthermore, Mr. Shevardnadze said
that participation in the elections "shall be considered a
patriotic duty of each and every citizen". As the CSCE report
concludes, " by implication, therefore, not voting was
unpatriotic and malevolent." Finally, it should be recalled
that Mr.Shevardnadze was the sole candidate for direct
election as a chairman of parliament. While being a sole candidate
is not unusual in a communist system, which he is a product of,
direct election to the position of chairman of parliament was an
electoral "first" with no precedent in history! Honorable Senator and
Representative, my country is today approaching a state of anarchy
where armed militias accountable to no legitimately elected
official impose their will on the population. Mr.Shevardnadze
had publicly stated on his return to Georgia that his aim was
"to restore democracy". The very same militias that
helped bring him to power are today uncontrollable even by him. As
a result, the human rights of Georgian people are systematically
violated. Several recent reports by independent outside observers
(e.g., State Department Report on Human Rights in Georgia, 1992;
Violations of Human Rights in the Caucasus, Report of the Union of
Young Europeans, 1992; Democracy and Human Rights in Georgia,
Report of the British Helsinki Human Rights Group, 1992; US
Congress Helsinki Commission, Reports on Georgia; International
Society for Human rights - IGFM Frankfurt/Mein, Reports on human
rights in Georgia, etc.,) have documented some of the most
outrageous violations, including torture (e.g., Zaza Tsiklauri,
Prof. G.Gelbakhiani, and many others), cruel murder of
opponents (e.g., school teacher Goksadze, and many others),
suppression of free press and speech, shooting and severe
dispersion of peaceful demonstrations (hundreds of peaceful
civilians, including women and children are killed and wounded),
political detention (thousands), extrajuridical executions by
illegal military courts, which are similar to Stalin's "troikas"
of 1937, large-scale massacres of innocent women and children in
western Georgia, including Abkhazia, and "South
Ossetia". I trust that your hearings will bring into open
these violations. The most
serious violations of human rights are committed by the armed
militias. As the State Department Report on Georgia states
"Law enforcement officials were credibly accused of human
rights violations, including arrests without warrant, the physical
abuse of detains... freedom of speech and press was severely
circumscribed... and government supporters took to policing the
media... Paramilitary groups, particularly the "Mkhedrioni",
reportedly relied widely on detentions for political reasons. The
"Mkhedrioni" appeared to operate with impurity.
Members of the National Guard were also thought to engage
in such actions. The beatings of detains is apparently
routine." The latest CSCE report on Georgia also documents
wide-spread abuses by the militias. "Mkhedrioni"
units have reportedly swarmed though (western Georgia) shooting,
arresting, beating robbing raping and abducting people...In
Tbilisi, pro-Gamsakhurdia demonstrators have been indisputably
been attacked, beaten, arrested, and shot" Given such indisputable evidence of
human Rights violations, complete lack of rule of law, and
wide-spread anarchy under the rule of Mr.Shevardnadze and
the military junta that supports him, how can democratic countries
around the world remain indifferent to the suffering of the
Georgian people. These atrocities are being committed by a
government which has been recognized by the United States and
several other countries (recently one of the biggest newspaper of
Germany, 'Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung' (27.01 93), warn
German government to be careful with this criminals, who's hands
are dirty not only blood of the compatriots, but also by the drug
business and illegal trade of arms). Gentlemen, Georgia needs a legitimate government that
can begin the healing the wounds of last year, move the country
along the path of national reconciliation, and start realizing the
tremendous economic development potential of the country. As long
as armed militias in collaboration with the "mafia" and
former communist nomemklatura terrorize the population, there will
be no peace and the country risks to slide into a full scale civil
war. If there is no peace and legitimate government in Georgia,
the whole Caucasus and the region beyond risk to become
destabilized, with grave consequences which could resemble the
current situation in the Balkans. I fear that unless something is done soon, Russia
will intervene on a massive scale to ensure control of the borders
of the former Soviet Union. This will bring back the empire in new
form and destabilize the international order. History has shown
that once a powerful country with imperialistic intentions starts
expanding its realm, it is difficult to foresee where the process
will stop. Unless democratic countries act today in support of
legitimate governments in the region, the Caucasus will fall into
anarchy and provide the pretext for Russia to resurrect its
temporarily concealed imperial intentions. It is possible that
president Yeltsin was preparing the world for such a
scenario when he claimed this week that Russia should be given a
free hand to keep the peace throughout the former Soviet Union,
including the possible granting of special United Nations powers! In the name of the Georgian nation I
appeal to you to use the occasion of the hearing on the Caucasus
to sensitize the world opinion to the dangers that lie ahead in
the Caucasus and the possible disastrous implications that a
continuation of civil strife and lack of rule of law in the region
could have on the world order. I also appeal to You to do
everything possible to expose the violations of human rights in
Georgia and advise the US administration to withdraw recognition
from the current government in Georgia until there is a legitimate
government in place that respects the internationally recognized
norms of rule of law and human rights. Respectfully,
Zviad Gamsakhurdia
President of the Republic of Georgia in exile Grozny, Chechen Republic, March 4th, 1993
An Appeal to
the Word Community of Nations; March 14th, 1993
Criminal junta of Shevardnadze,
waging war against it's own people, is threatening to the
population of western Georgia with a new genocide. On March
12-13th, two heads of junta, criminals Kitowani and Ioseliani,
whose hands are stained with the blood of the fellow-citizens,
spoke by the television of Georgia and announced, that they begin
great punitive operation in Megrelia to give good lesson at last
to it's population (As it is known last year they have organized
several crackdowns in that region). The main reason is civil
disobedience, announced by the population to the bloody regime,
refusal of taking part in the war against Abkhasians. I appeal to the world community of
nations, to all men of good will defend Megrelia from the
chastisers of junta to avoid new tragedy, which can lead to the
wide scale civil war in the whole Caucasus. Zviad Gamsakhurdia
President of the Republic
of Georgia in exile March
14th, 1993.
An Appeal to
the IGFM conference; March 17th, 1993.
I greet the IGFM conference and
wish you successful work for defense of Human Rights in the world.
I express gratitude to your organization for everything, what it
has done for the suffering Georgian people, for Georgian political
prisoners and supporters of restoration of democracy, legal
government and civilian rule. I want to inform you, that in Georgia, Shevardnadze's
criminal-terroristic regime continues rudest violations of Human
Rights and terroristic acts against the persons, who are in
opposition with it. The main prosecutor (procuror) of Tbilisi Mikhail
Kurdadze recently was assassinated in the street, near his
house. He was investigating some crimes of "Mkhedrioni"
members. He was warned several times beforehand, but he did not
cease investigation. After this followed open terroristic act.
Authorities announced that this was committed by "criminal
world", but they "can not find murderer". In
reality, these murderers rule country, Dshaba Ioseliani is
the deputy of Shevardnadze, the new interior minister,
criminal Temur Khachishvili is a member of "Mkhedrioni",
prosecutors of various districts of Tbilisi are replaced and "Mkhedrioni"
members are installed on their places. On March 13th there were
armed attacks and shooting by "unknown persons" on the
flats of the chief editor of the newspaper "Iberia-Spectrum"
Irakli Gotsiridze (who's son was assassinated last year),
member of Helsinki Union Avtandil Rtskhiladze and
well-known poet Mukhran Machavariani, who is the chairman
of Konstantine Gamsakhurdia Society. This was also warning
against persons, who criticize regime. Now police and procuracy (prosecutor's offices) are
entirely in the hands of criminals and terrorists. They continue
robbing and terrorizing population, tortures of political
prisoners: G.Gelbakhiani, M.Makashvili, Z.Tsiklauri and
others, they threaten to shut down the only oppositional newspaper
"Sakartvelos Samreklo" ("Grocery of
Georgia", editor Prof. Elizbar Dshavelidze)
because it "slanders" on "Mkhedrioni".
The letter of 58 political prisoners who are accused in
"treason" we have already sent to you. Criminal
"leaders" of junta Ioseliani and Kitovani
are threatening to the population of western Georgia with new
crackdowns and genocide, my appeal about this is also sent to you.
I ask your organization and all Human Rights organizations of the
world to widespread this information, send more letters of
protests to the bloody criminal regime, inform governments of the
world about the crimes of Georgian "Cosa Nostra"
headed by Shevardnadze and Ioseliani against it's
own people. I ask you to
distribute this letter among all organizations of IGFM. With great respect and best regards Zviad Gamsakhurdia
President of the Republic
of Georgia in exile March
17th, 1993.
To His Excellency, President of
the USA Mr. Bill Clinton; May 3, 1993
Dear Mr. President, I consider it an honor to appeal to
you. Your speech in Annapolis filled me with a deep belief that
the errors committed in respect to Georgia by Bush's
administration will not be repeated any more. I appreciate
especially your thesis that problem of Russia and of the new
states will be in center of attention of the USA and that the new
states should decide their fate independently. For my part I
consider it necessary to set forth to you some of my
considerations about normalization of the situation in Georgia,
prospects of relations with Russia and the West; I want to explain
as well political motives which caused false notion about me as of
radical nationalist. Bush,
Baker, Genscher, Kohl and some other politicians considered
preservation of the USSR both possible and desirable. In contrast
to them I, as well as some other anti-imperial leaders of the
Baltic republics and Ukraine had a contrary opinion on that issue
of a principle importance and, accordingly, we promoted the
processes of disintegration of the Soviet Empire. Because of this
divergence of views Mr. Bush called me 'a man which has been going
against the tide'. Anti-imperial movement, working for the
disintegration of the Soviet Empire, was depicted as nationalism
and negative force. The campaign against me and my government
achieved its object. But time has already demonstrated who has
been going against the stream and who has been attempting to stop
the clock of history. As it is correctly noted in your speech, Mr.
President, because of a break-up of the USSR there is not any more
a danger of a global war and this is in the interests of the West. Mr. President, anti-imperial forces
and sentiments in the new states of the ex-USSR have not exhausted
their potential and they can still play a very positive role for
damping of ardour of expansionist and totalitarian forces of
former nomenclatura in the Russian Federation. And vice versa, a
restoration of such nomenclatura's power headed by Shevardnadze
in Georgia not only cast the country away from the path of
democracy and plunged it into state terrorism and anarchy, but it
encourages as well all antidemocratic forces in Russia inspiring
them with a hope of a similar revanchism and contr-revolution. Any
attempt of such revanchism in Russia and of restoration of a
former Soviet Union or of something like it will lead to
unpredictable results and perhaps even to the global tragedy.
Russia can and should play a very positive role in the world
order, but only in the case if it is on the way of democratic
development without any expansionist ambitions. This is why I
think it is desirable to signal to conservative forces in Russia
that no kind of nomenclatura restoration, including Shevardnadze's
variant of such non-constitutional coming to power, will never be
supported by the West. Mr.
President, the worst kind of party nomenclatura restoration took
place in Georgia. Shevardnadze's regime is in alliance of former
nomenclatura bosses, mafia and criminals. Activities of criminal
bands, military and paramilitary groups, arbitrary rule, terror
and persecution not only of the political parties which had been
backing me before the putch, but as well of all my backers all
over the country, cruel military actions against Abkhazians and
deviation from political dialogue and compromises with them, moral
degradation of young people, spreading of drugs and a cult of
arms, pauperization of people, unilateral propaganda, arbitrary
arrests, tortures in prisons - such is a very incomplete
enumeration of crimes of Shevardnadze's regime. The legal
President of the country, Prime-Minister, many MPs, ministers and
active politicians are in exile. The Georgian people does not lose
a hope that going away of Bush and Baker will change
the attitude of USA to Shevardnadze and his criminal
regime, that removal by force of the President and Parliament and
usurpation of power by nomenclatura, mafia and criminals will be
denounced as well as a removal of legal President of Haiti was
condemned by your administration. We hope as well that American
Embassy in Tbilisi will take a correct stand to the violation of
human rights in my country. Such steps would promote restoration
of legal authorities and would lead to the normalization of
situation in Georgia. Mr.
President, Georgia can play a very positive role in the
relationship between the NATO and Russia, Europe and Asia, East
and West. Because of its geopolitical position it can be a kind of
transit bridge for the coordination and realization of mutually
advantageous economic relations. There are as well some other
interesting and prospective aspects which cannot be discussed
within the limits of a letter. But all these needs one necessary
precondition - embarking on the path of democracy and stability. I
express my hope and belief that the United States will not remain
indifferent to the heavy fate of the Georgian people. I am sure
that my personal visit to Washington would lay the strong
foundations to democracy in Georgia and to the good relations
between our countries. Before that I am ready to send to
Washington my representative for better clearing of my position
and my approach to the problem of normalization of the situation
of Georgia. I am sure that the values of the Democratic Party and
the Christian and Democratic ideals of my movement ("Round
Table - Free Georgia") are a good foundation for mutual
understand and collaboration for the welfare not only of my
country. Respectfully, Zviad Gamsakhurdia
President of Republic Georgia in exile
May 3, 1993, Grozny, Chechen Republic
Temporary residency: Chechen Republic, Grozny, Presidential
Palace.
To His Excellency President
William Clinton President of the United States
of America; June 1, 1993
The White House
2000 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC Dear Mr.
President: I would like to
bring to your attention a critical matter which may have serious
consequences if not attended to immediately: the situation in the
Caucasian region of the former Soviet Union. There are several newly, independent states in the
Caucasian region, including the Chechen Republic, who is
desperately trying to adopt western democracy and strong US and
European diplomatic and economic ties, as well as the US
recognized Republic of Georgia in the period of my Presidency.
However, some destructive forces are attempting, via a variety of
means, to take over the region. Our area is explosive,
economically deprived, unstable, and in the case of Georgia,
suffering severe human rights abuses. I wish to remind you that I was the first
democratically elected President of a Republic in the former
Soviet Union. The United States and others were monitors to these
elections in which I won a stunning 87% of the popular vote, 60%
of the parliamentary vote, and 98% of a referendum vote regarding
the independence of Georgia. All of these elections were monitored
and recognized worldwide. I am considered a President-In-Exile,
much like Mr.Aristide of Haiti, and I do have a
Parliament-In-Exile, as well. Popular demonstrations of over
80,000 people occur frequently in Georgia and petitions to restore
me to power have been signed and sent to officials throughout the
West. But, more
importantly, since my time in exile, terrible human rights
atrocities in Georgia have been documented and witnessed
first-hand, not only via word of mouth, but also via the media and
foreign visitors to Georgia. Political prisoners, murders of women
and children, secret police, loss of freedom of the press and
speech, intimidation tactics, unorganized private militias, and
torture have all led to fear, chaos and a very explosive
situation. Documentation of a sample of our situation can be seen
in a recent Discovery documentary entitled "Shevardnadze
Uncovered" which was shown for the first time on January
19, 1993. This situation is worsened by a corrupt system in which
no one seems to have control. Without a doubt, the situation due
to Mr.Shevardnadze has become most difficult. Throughout all of this, there has
been discreet increased pressure from above-mentioned destructive
forces, to take over our Caucasian region economically,
religiously and eventually politically. Our religiously tolerant
society is fighting those forces throughout the region. My ally in
the Republic of Chechen, Dzhohar Dudaev, the peoples of
these republics and I are vehemently against this trend, as well
as trends to return to the old Soviet ways. We wish ties to the
West and to proceed with proper western Democratic political and
economic principles with your assistance. The entire Caucasian region is a time bomb waiting to
go off, and due to the close proximity to the traditional Islamic
republics, we believe that the situation could become worse than
the Bosnian Crisis which you are facing. Many US and European companies are becoming involved
in our region with multi-million dollar projects in oil,
telecommunications and other matters of infrastructure. However,
the explosive political situation, coupled with the dangers to the
lives of everyone, including foreigners, have put many projects on
hold. We must have ties to the West and not become associated with
our neighbors to the South. Under the current administration in
Georgia, the region has become an international illegal drug and
arms trading bridge between Russia and Iran. This is documented
widely. We envision the
creation of a federation of Caucasian states with free trade and a
solid link to US and Western European political and economic
allies, as well as peaceful relations with our Russian and Mideast
neighbors. We are ethnically, culturally, religiously and
linguistically distinct from Russians and traditional Islamics,
alike. I believe that the
United States has an urgent reason to become involved in the
political, economic and religious future of this misunderstood
region. I ask for your recognition of the independence of the
Republic of Chechen, which is the critical gateway toward peace in
this region, along with your recognition of my legitimate
presidency and government in exile. I would be most happy to unofficially or officially
discuss these issues with you or any of your officials. My sincere
respect and best wishes to you. Respectfully submitted, Zviad Gamsakhurdia
President-In-Exile of the
Republic of Georgia Grozny,
June 1, 1993
To His
Excellency President of the Republic of Turkey
Mr. Suleiman Demirel; 1993, 3-th June
Mr. President! I, the first legally and
democratically elected President of Georgia, now in exile, greet
you from Chechen Republic. I
want to express my deep respect to you and using opportunity,
congratulate you on the occasion of electing on the high position
of President. I appreciate very much the fact, that Turkey has
recognized independence of Georgian state in the period of my
presidency, on Dec.16,1991. That was a good signal as a decision
of Turkey to have good relations and mutual understanding between
our states, which was always welcomed by me. Besides, I was the
first President, who always respected and helped Turkish minority
in Georgia, defended their rights and announced religious
tolerance and freedom. Facts concerning this can be given to your
representatives, if you will be interested in this matter. I think, this peace and stability in
Georgia is desirable for Turkey and not such criminal anarchy and
civil war, which now reigns there, after the coming to power of
illegal regime of Shevardnadze. I want to assure you, that
peace and stability never will return to Georgia until restoration
of legal, constitutional Government. As it is known to you, my Government was overthrown
after the military putch and coup d'etat, with the help of Soviet
Russian army, and you, who personally have experienced similar
situation several times, will understand my condition, as
political figure, who is deprived of possibility of going western
countries. Mr. President, I
want to draw your attention to one unpleasant fact. The only way
to western countries from Grozny, Chechenia, where I live now, is
Turkey. In December 1992 Turkish embassy in Austria refused me a
transit visa trough Turkey. Now I have similar problem: being
invited to western countries I need permission of entering your
country and go through it. I
believe, that Turkey, which announced it's fidelity to the
principles of Democracy, Human Rights and Market Economy, will not
refuse me entering country in this case. Moreover, I have no aims
of political activity in your country or not even making any
political statements. Besides, I have only friendly and good
feelings towards your people and Government and never have done
anything against it. Mr.
President! My discrimination and refusal of visa to me will be
perceived very negatively by Georgian people, 90% of which still
supports me. It will not be good to create such unpleasant
precedent in the relationships between our two peoples. At the same time fair and just
decision of Turkish Government will be perceived as fidelity to
the international law and principles of Human Rights and Georgian
people will never forget such expression of goodwill to it's first
legal President, who is now in emigration after the military coup. To my best feelings towards you join
my family, Prime-minister of Georgia in exile, Speaker of the
Parliament in exile, other members of Government and Parliament
and leaders of parties and movements, who are now in opposition
towards existing regime in Georgia. With best regards and respect, Zviad Gamsakhurdia
President of the Republic of Georgia in exile Grozny, 1993, 3-th June
To His
Excellency
President Jaques Chirac
The President of R.P.R.; July 16th, 1993
Dear Mr. President, I, the first legally and freely
elected President of Georgia, now in exile, address you in hope to
attract your attention to alarming and tragic situation in my
homeland. Georgian
communist nomenklatura, headed by E. Shevardnaze, in
alliance with criminal world and due to direct interference of Transcaucasian
troops of Russian (Soviet) Army regained state power, which it
lost in first in the former Soviet Union free, multi-party
parliamentary (October 1990) and presidential (May 1991)
elections, in January 1992 by means of military coup d'etat,
having strong political and material support from Moscow. These
events led to banning of freely and democratically elected
President and Parliament of Georgia and to abolishing of
Constitution. As a result,
the independent state-of-law, which our block of parties ('Round
Table - Free Georgia') of Christian-Democratic orientation was
striving to build (state structure is similar to French-type
presidential republic, which is very close to Georgian national
specificity, and I myself always felt great respect towards President
De Gaulles and his policy), was substituted by unprecedented
mafia-state, where all state institutions exists only formally,
whereas real power is concentrated in the hands of criminal
"elite". I shall
not bother you enumerating facts of atrocities and Human Rights
abuses, committed by illegal regime of Shevardnadze in
order to keep power and to suppress the strong civil disobedience
movement of great majority of Georgian people in support of the
restoration of constitutional order and legal authorities, they
are well-documented by international organizations and mass-media.
Economic chaos and criminal anarchy reigns today in Georgia,
country is brought to national catastrophe and there are no signs
of stabilization, situation becomes worse day by day. Policy of
criminal regime is one of the main reasons of destabilization in
the whole Caucasian region. Unfortunately,
Governments of western democratic countries, among them - French
Government, have not comprehend and estimated properly Georgian
events from the very beginning and recognized regime, which has
neither legitimacy nor authority to represent Georgia in the
international affairs and which is not recognized by it's own
people. Now similar events are taking place in Azerbaijan. Revenge
of nomenklatura is getting dangerous character and scale.
Well-known nature of forces, which have seized power, causes
significant changes of strategic situation in the region and these
changes, I am sure, are extremely harmful for western interests in
Caucasus. There is no necessity to remind, that imperial attitudes
in Moscow are raising, political and military presence of Russia
in the region is increasing and other well-known destructive
forces also are trying to strengthen their influence in the
region. Recent changes in
political life of France, results of the last elections in your
country give us hope, that estimations and approaches towards
Caucasus in general and especially towards Georgia, which is the
key of region, will change soon. It is evident, that the
restoration of legally elected President and Parliament and thus -
the legitimacy and the constitutional order is the only way to
rescue country and to achieve peace and stability. Only
international condemnation and wide-scale isolation of illegal
regime, and recognition of legally elected President and
Parliament can help to return Georgia to the path of the normal
democratic development and to improve situation in whole region.
On behalf of the long-suffering Georgian people I ask you to use
your great authority in this direction. Sincerely Yours, Zviad Gamsakhurdia
President of the Republic of Georgia in exile Grozny, Chechen Republic, July 16th, 1993
An Appeal to the President of
the United States of America Mr. William J. Clinton; September
7th, 1993
In Western Georgia is began the
restoration of the Legal State power: in town Zugdidi began
functioning the legal Cabinet of Ministers and legally elected
Parliament, which has appealed to legal President to return from
exile and to perform his duties, in response to what leaders of
the illegal criminal regime of Georgia Shevardnadze and Ioseliani
are unleashing full scaled civil war. They are involving Russian
military forces in the war against their own people, which in it's
great majority supports legal authorities. In western Georgia, in towns Poti and Samtredia
troops of illegal paramilitary organization "Mkhedrioni"
together with so called defense ministry forces and Russian and
Ukrainian hirelings are ready to attack those regions of Georgia,
which are controlled by the legal military forces of the Republic
of Georgia, which are true to the legal President and Parliament. Leader of "Mkhedrioni"
Ioseliani and the "interior minister", member of "Mkhedrioni"
T.Khachishvili on August 30 threatened by bombardment
aviation town Zugdidi, because it's population does not recognize
illegal regime of Shevardnadze. I appeal to you to support the idea of sending
special UN observers also to that region of Georgia, situation in
which soon may be like Bosnia and Herzegovina. Towns Zugdidi,
Khobi, Tsalendshikha, Chkhorotsku, Martvili, Senaki, Abasha, soon
may be like Sarajevo and other enclaves of Bosnia. They are in
blockade from all sides, economically deprived and near to hunger.
I ask UN and all international organizations to send there
humanitarian aid, as it is done for the population of town
Tkvarcheli in western Georgia (Abkhazian Autonomous Republic). Herewith I want to remind, that
solution of the Abkhazian conflict much depends on the peace and
stability in western Georgia and one problem can not be solved
without another, because deep connection exists between these two
regions. I want to inform you also, that military equipment,
armored vehicles and artillery, which was withdrawn from Abkhazia
by Shevardnadze troops, now are concentrated on the border of the
above-mentioned enclave of western Georgia, for taking part in the
military operations against the forces of the legal government of
Georgia, stationed in this region, what will have catastrophic
consequences for peace in the whole Georgia. Illegal paramilitary
groups of "Mkhedrioni" and others are robbing
population in towns Samtredia, Poti, Khoni, Kutaisi, which are
economically deprived and near to hunger. American embassy in
Tbilisi takes no heed of these facts and does not send to
Washington true information about the condition in Georgia. I ask you also to influence dictator
of Georgia Shevardnadze to refuse military methods in
solving political problems, stop robbing and terrorizing of the
population of Georgia and begin dialogue and peaceful negotiations
with legal authorities of Georgia: President, Government and
Parliament, whom he considers as opposition to his regime. Zviad Gamsakhurdia
President of the Republic
of Georgia in exile
Grozny, September 7th, 1993 |
