Civil Society Leaders Criticize Authorities over ?Intolerance? towards Opposition Opinion
A group of Georgian civil society leaders appealed the Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili with an open letter in which they expressed concerns over the Georgian authorities “intolerance” towards the opposition’s opinion.
“Unfortunately, alarming developments in Georgian politics made us to send this appeal to you,the President of the country and unilateral leader of the ruling party [National Movement]. Intolerance towards people with different opinions is being planted in Georgian politics and in other spheres of social life (business, education, science, culture, sport etc.),” reads the letter, which was published in Georgian leading daily newspapers on October 18.
“We are extremely concerned, particularly over the fact that in your [referring to President Saakashvili] recent public speeches there are more and more humiliating and insulting statements towards opponents.”
“Attempts to establish an intellectual dictatorship and mono-opinion will not lead the country to prompt reforms, but to an authoritarian rule and stagnation,” reads the appeal.
“Planting aggressive and insulting manners during debates and discussions, against the background of difficult social-economic problems, as well as ignorance of fundamental human rights, will not lead to the society’s consolidation,” the open letter states.
The open letter is signed by Ghia Nodia of the Caucasian Institute for Peace, Development and Democracy (CIPDD), legal expert Davit Usupashvili, Paata Zakareishvili of CIPDD, Tamar Chikovani of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Lasha Tughushi, editor-in-chief of the daily Rezonansi and other representatives from civil society.
