Open Estonia Foundation Supports development of Georgia's political system

Georgian opposition leaders Salome Zurabišvili, David Usupašvili and Kakha Kukava paid a visit to Estonia with the support  from the Open Estonia Foundation and  the Foreign Ministry’s development co-operation budget.

The goal of the visit was to offer the key figures in Georgia's opposition the chance to get acquainted with the structure of Estonia's state institutions and to meet the President of the Republic, members of the Parliament, high state officials, journalists, and NGO representatives. The meetings gave an overview of the work of Estonia's state institutions, media, and civil society and involvement of NGO-s in policy making.

Among others, the opposition leaders met Estonian President, Prime Minister, First Vice-Speaker of the Estonian Parliament.   Estonian Prime Minister encouraged Georgian opposition to continue with reforms, and emphasized the importance of common goals between the opposition and the coalition. Estonian party also expressed continuous support to Georgia’s aspirations towards the European Union and NATO.

According to opposition members, Europe has focused on the ruling coalition and not cooperated with them sufficiently, but signs of closer relations and better political culture are emerging. They also outline that many reforms in Georgia are benefiting the country, but not communicated clearly to the people, and thus not supported by the general public. Also, severe problems with rule of law were outlined.

Following the visit, Estonia will send an adviser to the Georgian Central Election Commission prior to the parliamentary elections, also the former Chancellor of Justice of Estonia will advise the Georgian ombudsman and former head of Estonian Television is advising Georgian public television.