Georgia: The Georgian Labour Party (GLP), including treatment of its members by authorities and other political parties; state protection available (2010-2015)

Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

1. Overview of the GLP

1.1 Objectives

According to sources, the (GLP) was founded in 1995 and their main objectives include furthering democratic principles in Georgia and attaining EU membership (European Forum for Democracy and Solidarity 28 May 2015; GLP n.d.a). The GLP's website indicates that its platform also includes the protection of human rights and promoting a free-trade market (ibid.). According to Democracy & Freedom Watch, a news service based in Tbilisi that reports on "the state of democracy and freedom in Georgia" (Democracy & Freedom Watch n.d.), the GLP also aims to increase financing for education and health care, reunite Georgia with Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and repair relations with Russia (ibid. 23 Oct. 2013).

1.2 Members

The GLP website indicates that the party has 220,000 members (GLP n.d.a). According to the European Forum for Democracy and Solidarity, a "platform for co-operation" and the development of democracy in Eastern and South-Eastern Europe, and the Caucasus (European Forum for Democracy and Solidarity n.d.), the GLP typically draws support from "the poorer strata in Georgian society" (ibid. 28 May 2015).

1.3 Leadership

Sources indicate that Shalva Natelashvili is the leader of the GLP (ibid.; Caucasian Knot 24 June 2011; PHW 2014, 520) and that Giorgi Gugava is the Secretary (ibid.). The GLP website notes that in 2007, Natelashvili organized an opposition rally (GLP n.d.b). He was reportedly accused of "espionage" (Eurasia Review 13 Dec. 2010; European Forum for Democracy and Solidarity 28 May 2015) or "high treason" (GLP n.d.b). The GLP website indicates that Natelashvili and the GLP have never been part of any coalitions (ibid.).

1.4 Participation in Elections

In 2008 the GLP won six seats in the parliamentary elections (European Forum for Democracy and Solidarity 28 May 2015; PHW 2014, 520). However, they subsequently suspended their parliamentary operations in a boycott (ibid.; European Forum for Democracy and Solidarity 28 May 2015; GLP n.d.a), alleging that Saakashvili had falsified election results (ibid.).

The GLP received approximately 1 percent of the vote during the 2012 parliamentary elections and did not secure any seats in parliament (European Forum for Democracy and Solidarity 28 May 2015; US 15 Oct. 2012, 3).

During the 2013 presidential elections, Natelashvili, who was the GLP's candidate, received 2.88 percent of the vote (European Forum for Democracy and Solidarity 28 May 2015; US 4 Nov. 2013, 3).

According to Civil Georgia, a daily news service based in Tbilisi that was founded by the UN Association of Georgia [1] (Civil Georgia n.d.), during the 15 June 2014 local elections, the GLP ran for seats in all 71 sakrebulos (municipal and city councils) and surpassed the 4 percent threshold for representation in 27 of them (ibid. 25 June 2014).

2. Relations with Other Parties

Sources indicate that Natelashvili was openly critical of Mikheil Saakashvili (Center for the National Interest 12 Sept. 2012; Eurasia Review 13 Dec. 2010; GLP n.d.b). Saakashvili took power in 2004 after the Rose Revolution (European Forum for Democracy and Solidarity 28 May 2015; BBC 31 Jan. 2012). He and his party, the United National Movement (UNM), remained in power until their loss to the Georgian Dream (GD) coalition [2] in the 2013 presidential elections (The Economist 2 Nov. 2013; European Forum for Democracy and Solidarity 28 May 2015) and the parliamentary elections in 2012 (ibid.; Freedom House 28 Jan. 2015). Sources report that in 2011, Natelashvili called for the impeachment of President Saakashvili (PHW 2014, 520; Georgia Times 24 June 2011; Caucasian Knot 24 June 2011). For further information on the UNM, including its political history and the treatment of UNM members by the GD coalition, see Response to Information Request GEO105151.

According to a 2011 article by Civil Georgia, prior to coming to power, Bidzina Ivanishvili, leader of the GD coalition, announced his intention to work in cooperation with some political parties, but named the GLP as a "'pseudo-opposition'" party and claimed that he did not intend to work in cooperation with Natelashvili (12 Oct. 2011). Georgia Times, a Georgian news website, similarly reports confrontations between Natelashvili and Ivanishvili, noting that Ivanishvili accused the Labour Party of "'pseudo opposition'," while Natelashvili accused Ivanishvili of being "'a new project of Washington'" (1 Nov. 2011). According to the Center for the National Interest article, Natelashvili is opposed to the GD coalition and claimed that the GLP is "the only opposition party not controlled by Ivanishvili" (12 Sept. 2012). Further and corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

3. Treatment of Members of the GLP

Information on the treatment of members of the GLP was scarce among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

Sources report that in November 2010 there was an explosion in Tbilisi outside the office of the GLP that killed an individual (Civil Georgia 28 Nov. 2010; US 22 Aug. 2013; Eurasia Review 13 Dec. 2010), and injured a GLP security guard (ibid.). According to Civil Georgia, Natelashvili claimed that the explosion was "aimed at 'terrorizing' his party" (28 Nov. 2010). Eurasia Review, "an independent journal and think tank" that aims to provide an alternative to "Western dominated media" (Eurasia Review n.d), similarly reported that the headquarters of the GLP "were targeted in the bombings" (ibid. 13 Dec. 2010). In December 2010, six people were arrested for the November and other bombings in Georgia, and were accused of having links to Russia (ibid.; BBC 31 January 2012). However, according to Eurasia Review, the GLP blamed the government and alleged the bombing near their office was in retaliation for the political activity of the GLP against the UNM (13 Dec. 2010). Further and corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

According to a monitoring report of the 2014 local elections by the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association (GYLA), an association that promotes the protection of human rights, public awareness and increasing government accountability (GYLA n.d.), on 5 June 2014 Jaba Endeladze, "a majoritarian candidate of the Labour Party," was physically assaulted (ibid. 12 Nov. 2014, 71). The same report also states that on 2 June 2014, authorities searched the house of Ushangi Tsestkhaldze, Labor Party candidate for Khelvachauri municipality (ibid., 72). The same source further notes that the Internal Ministry searched his home "according to their information that the candidate was keeping an unregistered weapon, which [the] search didn't confirm" (ibid.). Further and corroborating information about these incidents could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

4. State Protection

Information on state protection available to members of the GLP and police response to incidents of violence against GLP members could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Notes

[1] The United Nations Association of Georgia (UNAG) is an NGO established in 1995 that promotes "the principles of human rights and democratic governance" and the integration of Georgia into the international community (UNAG n.d.). It is a member of the World Federation of UN Associations (ibid.).

[2] The GD coalition was established by Bidzina Ivanishvili (Center for the National Interest 12 Sept. 2012; PHW 2014, 520; European Forum for Democracy and Solidarity 28 May 2015). According to sources, the GD coalition is comprised of political groups with diverse political perspectives (ibid.; The Economist 2 Nov. 2013; PHW 2014, 520).

References

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). 31 January 2012. "Timeline: Georgia." [Accessed 1 June 2015]

Caucasian Knot. 24 June 2011. "The Labour Party of Georgia Demands Saakashvili's Resignation." [Accessed 15 June 2015]

Center for the National Interest. 12 September 2012. "Georgian Labour Party Leader Shalva Natelashvili." [Accessed 15 June 2015]

Civil Georgia. 25 June 2014. "Round-up of Local Elections' Preliminary Results." [Accessed 1 June 2015]

____. 12 October 2011. "Ivanishvili: 'I Will Definitely Come into Power'." [Accessed 12 June 2015]

_____. 28 November 2010. "One Dies in Two Blasts in Tbilisi." [Accessed 1 June 2015]

_____. N.d. "About Civil.Ge." [Accessed 10 June 2015]

Democracy & Freedom Watch. 23 October 2013. "Labor Party Leader Threatens to Rally Supporters After Election." [Accessed 2 June 2015]

_____. N.d. "About Us." [Accessed 10 June 2015]

The Economist. 2 November 2013. "The End of Saakashvili's Reign." [Accessed 4 June 2015]

Eurasia Review. 13 December 2010. Robert Amsterdam. "The Tbilisi Bombings." [Accessed 2 June 2015]

_____. N.d. "About." [Accessed 2 June 2015]

European Forum for Democracy and Solidarity. 28 May 2015. "Georgia." [Accessed 2 June 2015]

_____. "Home." [Accessed 4 June 2015]

Freedom House. 28 January 2015. "Georgia." Freedom in the World 2015. [Accessed 4 June 2015]

Georgia Times. 1 November 2011. "Laborists vs Ivanishvili." [Accessed 15 June 2015]

_____. 24 June 2011. "The Georgian Labour Party Claim Impeachment to the President." [Accessed 15 June 2015]

Georgian Labour Party (GLP). N.d.a. "History." [Accessed 1 June 2015]

_____. N.d.b. "Biography of a Presidential Candidate of Georgia Shalva Natelashvili." [Accessed 17 June 2015]

Georgian Young Lawyer's Association (GYLA). 12 November 2014. 2014 Local Self-Government Election Observation Mission: Pre-election Environment, Election Day and Post-Election Period Monitoring Report (April 1 - July 22 2014). [Accessed 9 June 2015]

____. N.d. "Mission." [Accessed 10 June 2015]

Human Rights Center (HRIDC). N.d. "About Us." [Accessed 4 June 2015]

Political Handbook of the World 2014 (PHW). 2014. "Georgia." Edited by Tom Lansford. Washington, DC: CQ Press. [Accessed 12 June 2015]

United Nations Association of Georgia (UNAG). N.d. "About UNAG." [Accessed 6 June 2015]

United States (US). 4 November 2013. Congressional Research Service. Georgia's October 2013 Presidential Election: Outcome and Implications. By Jim Nichol. [Accessed 3 June 2015]

_____. 22 August 2013. Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC).Georgia 2013 Crime and Safety Report. [Accessed 10 June 2015]

_____. 15 October 2012. Congressional Research Service. Georgia's October 2012 Legislative Election: Outcome and Implications. By Jim Nichol. [Accessed 3 June 2015]

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: The following were unable to provide information for this Response: Georgian Young Lawyers' Association.

Attempts to contact the following were unsuccessful within the time constraints of this Response: Georgian Democracy Initiative; Human Rights House - Tbilisi; visiting professor, Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies, Harvard University.

Internet sites, including: Amnesty International; Caucasus Analytical Digest; Central News Network; ecoi.net; Eurasianet; Factiva; Georgia - Public Defender of Georgia; Georgian Democracy Initiative; Georgian Institute of Politics; Georgian Journal; Global Research - Centre for Research on Globalization; Human Rights House; Human Rights House Tbilisi; Human Rights Quarterly; Human Rights Watch; IRIN; Institute for War and Peace Reporting; International Crisis Group; International Foundation for Electoral Systems; The Jamestown Foundation; Kavkasia TV; Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung; Modern Diplomacy; The Moscow Times; Munk School of Global Affairs; National Democratic Institute; Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty; Transparency International Georgia; United Nationalist Movement; United Nations - Refworld.