Several sources refer to the St Ilia The Righteous Society (of Georgia) (RFE/RL 1 Mar. 2000; Itar-Tass 1 Mar. 2000; Monitor 24 Feb. 2000; Kavkasia Press 19 Feb. 2000; RFE/RL 9 Feb. 2000) or the Society of (Saint) Ilia The Righteous (Prime News 17 Aug. 1999; Eurasianet.org n.d.) or the All-Georgian Society of Ilia The Righteous (Iprinda 9 Sep. 1999). According to several sources, it was part of the Round Table-Free Georgia bloc (Iprinda 9 Sep. 1999; Prime News 17 Aug. 1999; Eurasianet.org n.d.).

In August 1999, the Chair of the Society of Ilia The Righteous reportedly stated that he would not be a candidate in the 31 October 1999 legislative elections as he had been elected to the Supreme Council in 1990 under the late Gamsakhurdia's rule (Prime News 17 Aug. 1999).

On the eve of the Georgian presidential election due to take place on 9 April 2000, Gia (Giya) Chkhikvadze, described as acting chairman of the St. Ilia The Righteous Society of Georgia (Kavkasia Press 19 Feb. 2000), or member of the board of the Ilia The Righteous Society (RFE/RL 9 Feb. 2000), announced his candidacy (ibid.; Kavkasia Press 19 Feb. 2000) after he had been nominated by a group of voters (ibid.) and applied for registration with the Central Electoral Commission (Monitor 24 Feb. 2000). However, Chkhikvadze failed to provide the required list of at least 50,000 signatures by the 29 February 2000 deadline (RFE/RL 1 Mar. 2000; Itar-Tass 1 Mar. 2000) and withdrew from the elections (ibid.). Gia Chkhikvadze is described as a "professional politician" (Kavkasia Press 19 Feb. 2000), born in 1957 (Monitor 24 Feb. 2000; Kavkasia Press 19 Feb. 2000; RFE/RL 9 Feb. 2000). Ally of the late Georgian president Zviad Gamsakhurdia, Chkhikvadze was imprisoned in 1992-1993 after Gamsakhurdia was overthrown (ibid.; Monitor 24 Feb. 2000). On the current Georgian political scene, political groups supportive of Zviad Gamsakhurdia ("Zviadist") such as the St. Ilia The Righteous Society no longer play a significant role, although some of their members expect to rally support in Mingrelia, a province in eastern Georgia (ibid.).

Information on the treatment of St. Ilia The Righteous Society members by the government could not be found in the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, for general information regarding treatment of supporters of former President Gamsakhurdia, please consult GGA34549.E of 21 June 2000 and GGA33979.E of 8 March 2000.

In an undated Webpage, Eurasianet.org provides the following on the Society of Saint Ilia The Righteous (SSIR):

Political direction : right

Motto: Native Land, Language, Religion.

Main program priorities:

Economics: free

Foreign policy: Caucasian confederation, local and free

Territorial arrangement of the state: unitary

System arrangement of the state: presidential

History of establishment:

Date of founding: 12.01.1988; First registration: 09.1990; New registration: 01.02. 1998.

Founders : Merab Kostava, Zviad Gamsakhurdia.

Organisational structure: congress (once every 4 years) - administration (is elected for a 4-year term, members: Zurab Tskhadadze, Kakha Chanturia, Amiran Pirtskhalava, Ketevan Abdaladze, Vakhtang Tsagareishvili) - a chairman (is elected by a congress for a 4-year term, last elected in 1997)

Vakhtang Cagareishvili - (born in 1943, Zestafoni), Ph.D. in mathematics and physics. Graduated from Tbilisi State University, department of mathematics. Professional experience: 1978-1994 - a lecturer at TSU department of general mathematics. Political experience: since 1997 - a chairman of the board of SSIR, 1990-1997-a board member of SSIR, 1998-1990 - a head of religion commission of National JusticeUnion , 1989-1990 - a member of Republican-Federalist Party

Participated in 1990 parliamentary elections as a majority candidate, from the block " Round Table-Free Georgia", got an MP, since 1991- a member of the fraction "Majority-1991", 1990 until present - a head of the subcommittee.

Has three children

Address: 13, Iashvilist., Tbilisi Phone: 920318

No of members : 1.400 (active-200)

Regional organizations: 17 District organisations

Political background :

The party participated in 1990 parliament elections within the block - "Round Table - Free Georgia", received about

54% of votes. Was represented by 15 party list MPs

Pre-election program for 1990 parliamentary elections: Independence, withdrawal of Soviet Union troops from the territory of Georgia, creating independent state policy and economics.

The party boycotted 1992 and 1995 parliamentary elections and 1998 local self-government elections.

The party supported Zviad Gamsakhurdia in 1991 presidential elections.

The party did not support any candidate in 1995 presidential elections.

The current course of the government is considered anti-popular and anti-national, violating basic human rights, lacking solid social basis and excluding interests of citizens.

The party is registered in CEC, grounds: signatures of 50 000 supporters, an authorised representative in CEC: Jumber Bliadze (Block representative)

Pre-election program priorities: restoring territorial integrity of Georgia, promoting rule of law, securing basic human rights. Establishing main parameters of the state, unification. Georgia should become an axis type state.

Address : 50, Chubinashvili st., Tbilisi.

Phone : 92 03 18.

Contact person: Vakhtang Tsagareishvili, Zurab Tskhadadze (Phone: 329576)

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Eurasianet.org. n.d. "Georgia's Political Parties in their Own Words." http://www.soros.org/cen_eurasia/departments/election/georgia/geoparties.html [Accessed 26 July 2000]

Iprinda (Tbilisi, in Georgian). 9 September 1999. "List of Georgian Political Parties, Electoral Blocs to Stand in Elections." (BBC Worldwide Monitoring 9 Sep. 1999/NEXIS)

Itar-Tass. 1 March 2000. "12 Candidates to Run for Georgian Presidency." (NEXIS)

Kavkasia Press (Tbilisi, in Georgian). 19 February 2000. "Sixteen Nominees to be Considered for Registration in Georgian Presidential Poll." (BBC Worldwide Monitoring 20 Feb. 2000/NEXIS)

Monitor (Washington D.C.). 24 February 2000. "Colorful Cast of Candidates in Presidential Election." http://www.jamestown.org/pubs/mon_006_039_000.htm [Accessed 26 July 2000]

Prime News (Tbilisi, in Georgian). 17 August 1999. "Georgian Opposition Alliance Hopes to Win at least 55 Seats in Parliament." http://www.soros.org/cen_eurasia/elections/bbg28189.html [Accessed 26 July 2000]

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). 1 March 2000. "Twelve Candidates Qualify for Georgian Presidential Poll." http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2000/03/010300.html [Accessed 26 July 2000]

_____. 9 February 2000. "...As are Three Other Candidates." http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2000/02/090200.html [Accessed 26 July 2000]

Additional Sources Consulted

Countries of the World 2000

The Europa World Year Book 1999

International Who's Who 1998-99

_____. 2000

IRB Databases

LEXIS/NEXIS

Political Handbook of the World 1999

Quid 1999

Resource Centre country file on Georgia. January 1999-January 2000.

Worldwide Government Directory with International Organizations 1999

Internet sites including:

Amnesty International (AI)

British Helsinki Human Rights Group

The CIA World Factbook 1999

Elections Around the World

European Forum for Democracy and Solidarity

Freedom of the World 1999

The Georgian Times (Tbilisi)

Human Rights Watch (HRW)

International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (IHF-HR)

Keesing's

Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)

Shavlego Legal Authorities, National Independence and Resistance Movements of Georgia andCaucasus. By the Name of 'Shavlego' - Bulletin of the "All Georgian St.Ilia the Righteous Society"

Social Science Information Gateway

Soros Foundations Network

Transitions

US Department of State

World News Connection (WNC)