Mikhail Saakashvili stands highest chances of winning Georgian presidential election

Leader of the National Movement party and candidate from the Burdjanadze-Democrats political association Mikhail Saakashvili - one of the leaders of the November Velvet Revolution - is standing the highest chances of winning the early presidential election in Georgia. This is the opinion of the majority of Georgian NGOs following the run-up processes in the country.

In his program address to the voters, Saakashvili declared Georgia's readiness for friendship with Russia but only if Moscow respected Georgia's independence and sovereignty.

"We want to be friends with Russia but it should realize that we have other options such as Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Turkey," said Saakashvili.

The presidential hopeful has also touched upon the problem of the Adjarian autonomy and voiced his attitude to its leader Aslan Abashidze. "Adjaria is not Aslan Abashidze's property. If somebody tries to separate this territory from Georgia, I have a four-wall accommodation for this person at the ready. I am ready to meet Abashidze and meet him half-way. But I will never make any concessions detrimental to the country's interests. Shevardnadze has already destroyed what could be destroyed. There is no need for any more destruction. Moreover, we will certainly restore Georgia's territorial integrity and reach the Psou (a river on the border between the Abkhazian self-proclaimed republic and Russia)," Saakashvili said in his election program, as appearing in front of his supporters in the Sports Palace in late December.

Besides Saakashvili, contending for the top state position in Georgia will be leader of the David the Builder political movement Roin Liparteliani, head of the Georgian Lawyers Association Kartlos Garibashvili, leader of the Mdzleveli political movement Zurab Kelekhsashvili, leader of the Georgian League of the Disabled NGO Zaza Sikharulidze, and former governor of the Imeretia (a region in Georgia) Teimuraz Shashiashvili.

Originally, 15 candidates intended to run for the presidency but eight of them failed to gather the necessary number of signatures - 50,000. Another presidential candidate - former state security minister Igor Giorgadze - failed to get registered with the Central Election Commission because he had not been living on the Georgian territory in the past two years as the law on presidential elections requires.

Editors note: See also the article "Georgia is getting ready for presidential election".