HOW THE 1992 ELECTIONS OF GEORGIA WERE PLANNED

Abstract

Elections are always considered the most legal and legitimate means of expressing the will of the people. Every citizen has the right to participate in their country’s governance. In any democratic state, elections are a key mechanism for changing governments and initiating new reforms, allowing citizens to express their views regardless of belief, religion, gender, or ethnicity.

Georgia held its first multi-party parliamentary elections in 1919, but they did not become a systemic practice. After the annexation of Georgia by the Soviet Union in 1921, all democratic processes were suspended. The country lost its independence and endured 70 years of communist dictatorship. During this time, Georgia held only one-party, undemocratic elections. This continued until the parliamentary elections of October 28, 1990, which brought the "Round Table – Free Georgia" bloc to power, initiating a transitional period that eventually led to the restoration of Georgia’s independence and efforts to build democratic institutions.

The events and processes of the 1990s are particularly significant in shaping Georgia as a modern state. This period was marked by severe challenges. On one hand, the newly independent state had to reckon with the Russian Federation, which emerged from the collapse of the Soviet Union. On the other, it sought to align itself with the West and gain acceptance in the European community. Following the ousting of Zviad Gamsakhurdia’s government and the rise of a ruling triumvirate, the political situation became increasingly tense.

Against this backdrop, it is especially important that society began using elections as a means of initiating positive changes in the country. Studying the 1992 parliamentary elections in Georgia is not only relevant to understanding Georgian history but also provides insight into broader regional dynamics in the South Caucasus. The Baltic states were also distancing themselves from Soviet influence during this period, and the developments in these regions were closely watched by both European and American observers.

Western historiography places significant emphasis on studying recent history. Accordingly, by examining the 1992 parliamentary elections, we bring to light key issues from Georgia's contemporary history. This research represents a scientific innovation and will reveal many interesting details about an important transitional period in Georgia's recent past.

  Key words: October 1992; Georgia, Parliamentary Elections; Military Council; State Council; Central Election Commission