OSCE Military Monitoring

National Defence University

Development of democracy in Georgia

20. huhtikuuta 2023

Major Heikki LehtonenDepartment of Strategic and Defence StudiesNational Defence University

2

Presentation

• The meaning of the OSCE monitoring

• How the situation changed in Georgia between 2003 – 2009?

• How the August 2008 war changed Georgia?

20. huhtikuuta 2023

Major Heikki LehtonenDepartment of Strategic and Defence StudiesNational Defence University

3

OSCE Military Monitoring

• Main task was to monitor the military and security situation

• In addition, to report about– Developments, worries, current issues

• including human rights, FoM

• Gave local people an easy way to relay information to an international organization

20. huhtikuuta 2023

Major Heikki LehtonenDepartment of Strategic and Defence StudiesNational Defence University

4

Development (undisputed areas)

• Between 2003 – 2009– Armed Forces

• Professional army• Prestige• Equipment

– Police• Corruption declining?• Attitude (towards them and towards civilians)

– Negative towards Ossetians– No real respect for human rights

• More professional

20. huhtikuuta 2023

Major Heikki LehtonenDepartment of Strategic and Defence StudiesNational Defence University

5

Development (South Ossetia)

• Governance– No rule of law– No confirmed democracy– No transparency

• Army and Militia– No discipline, no rules– No respect for international treaties or

agreements

20. huhtikuuta 2023

Major Heikki LehtonenDepartment of Strategic and Defence StudiesNational Defence University

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How the war changed the democratic landscape

• No democratic traditions– Rule of law – people are used to abuse

of power– Blockade of South Ossetia

• People were not against Saakashvili when Georgia entered Tskhinvali– Opposition is against Saakashvili

• People are now more aware of their democratic rights, but still not actively demanding democracy– What is the change the people want?

• Real democracy or• Own way of living and western standards

of living

20. huhtikuuta 2023

Major Heikki LehtonenDepartment of Strategic and Defence StudiesNational Defence University

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Thank you for your attention!