Azerbaijan, Baku / Trend corr. А. Gasiomova / The director of the programs of Russia and CIS member-countries of the German Council on Foreign Policy and expert on International Relations Alexander Rar, believes that the Georgian opposition will lose the upcoming presidential elections.
"Georgian opposition does not have a single leader to the presidential post and force to win the presidential elections in Georgia," Rar said.
The presidential elections will be held on 5 January 2008 in Georgia. Six candidates run for the presidential post, the ex-President Michael Saakashvili and opposition candidates Levan Gachechiladze, Shalva Natelashvili, David Gamkrelidze, Irina Sarishvili and Giorgi Maisashvili. Before the seventh candidate Arkadi Patarkatsishvili stated about removal of his candidature. The reason for withdrawal of his candidature became the materials by the Georgian General Prosecutor Office. The materials stated about possible disorders and mass rallies the next day after the presidential elections. However, Patarkatsishvili stated that he would take part at the elections.
Rar said that an administrative resource would operate to support the candidature of Saakashvili.
"The current situation in Georgia does not look like a new revolution. Saakashvili managed to calm the situation, and he cannot quarrel with the West, as the United States and European Union support him," the expert said.