(nytimes.com) No leader of the former Soviet republics has been more pro-Western than
President Mikheil Saakashvili of Georgia. He moves easily in Washington
and dreams of bringing his country into full NATO membership. But his
government’s handling of prisons and its approach to parliamentary
elections set for Monday are raising doubts about his commitment to
democracy and reform. 
Critics both inside Georgia and internationally have increasingly
faulted Mr. Saakashvili for persecuting opponents, pressuring the courts
and stifling the news media. In June, the National Democratic Institute
reported on a growing political polarization and a rise in hate speech
in the country.
Since then, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe has
expressed concern that the judiciary is not independent enough to
guarantee fair elections. Amnesty International and Transparency
International Georgia have cited numerous cases in which opposition
activists were beaten, intimidated or detained for supporting Mr.
Saakashvili’s political rival, the billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, and
his “Georgian Dream” coalition. The government slapped Mr. Ivanishvili
with what many considered excessive fines for campaign spending
violations.
Then a week and a half ago, protests erupted after two pro-opposition
television channels — including one owned by Mr. Ivanishvili — showed
film of inmates in the capital’s main prison being tortured and raped.
Two ministers resigned and 10 prison officials, including the chief,
were arrested. The government said the film was recorded by guards who
were bribed, but the violence was reprehensible and appeared to violate
the United Nations Convention Against Torture.
Only a full, transparent investigation will make good on Mr.
Saakashvili’s promise to punish those responsible and reform the system.
Georgia is less than nine years past its Rose Revolution. This election
is another critical building block in a fragile democratic order. On
Monday, the country will elect a new Parliament; because of legislative
changes, the prime minister’s job will become more powerful than the
presidency once Mr. Saakashvili’s term ends next year. There is
speculation that he will try to stay in power beyond that by seeking the
prime minister’s office.
Mr. Saakashvili and his supporters suspect that Mr. Ivanishvili is a
stalking horse for Russia, where the billionaire made his fortune and
against whom Georgia fought a brief, disastrous war in 2008. Whatever
the case, Mr. Saakashvili jeopardizes his legacy and his ability to lead
Georgia into NATO if he fails to keep the country moving forward toward
democracy and human rights.
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