TOL Georgia

Response to Human Rights Watch

December 23rd, 2007 by jibs

So, the Human Rights Watch gave a critical evaluation to the breakup of the Tbilisi demonstration on November 7. It was more than critical in fact — the report concludes that even if Saakashvili is reelected, his administration would have much more to prove to show that the country is “back on track”.

His allies were furious: for a month now they have been trying to play down the seriousness of November 7. “Such things happen in the West all the time” they said. And now the Human Rights Watch report claims that such things happen in less democratic states. Or even the authoritarian ones.

Saakashvili’s allies went on attack:

“The timing of this report only serves to damage the reputation of Human Rights Watch and I am sorry that it [HRW] took this step and did not think of its reputation.” said Eka Tkeshelashvili, the Minister of Justice.

“I am not analyzing Human Rights Watch’s international credibility,” she said. “Although, its treatment of the United States and in particular the Bush administration has been quite biased.” [Civil Georgia, Tbilisi / 2007-12-21]

So, HRW would be considered unbiased if it released its report after the elections, and if it claimed that break up of demonstrations happen in the West all the time. Also, it’s disappointing to hear that Bush’s administration is considered an epitome of democracy within the Georgian administration.

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