Merab Kostava Society

Georgian political party

Politics of Georgia
Political parties
Elections

Merab Kostava Society (Georgian: მერაბ კოსტავას საზოგადოება, romanized: merab k'ost'avas sazogadoeba), initially All-Georgian Society of Merab Kostava (Georgian: სრულიად საქართველოს მერაბ კოსტავას საზოგადოება, romanized: sruliad sakartvelos merab k'ost'avas sazogadoeba), was a political party and paramilitary organization in Georgia founded by Vazha Adamia.

History

The party was named after Merab Kostava, a Georgian pro-independence activist who died in a car crash in 1989. It was registered in 1990 and became a member of Round Table coalition led by dissident and Kostava's close friend Zviad Gamsakhurdia. In 1990 general elections, the first multi-party elections in Soviet Georgia, the coalition secured victory and the party got 24 seats in the Georgia's Supreme Council. Vazha Adamia became the chairman of the Committee on Defence, National Security and Law and Order in the Supreme Council. On 9 April 1991, the coalition declared the independence of Georgia from the Soviet Union. However, over the time the party developed conflict with Zviad Gamsakhurdia, who became the country's first president, possibly over the appointment of Tengiz Kitovani instead of Vazha Adamia as the commander of the Georgian National Guard, the republic's first national military formation. Eventually, the conflict led to the expulsion of the Merab Kostava Society from the Round Table coalition in September 1991. Tengiz Kitovani, who rebelled against President Gamsakhurdia in August 1991, allied with Vazha Adamia and the Merab Kostava Society took part in the 1991–1992 Georgian coup d'état, removing Gamsakhurdia from office.^[2] The military wing of Merab Kostava Society also participated in the 1991–1992 South Ossetian war.^[1]

In 1992 Georgian general election, the party participated independently and received 7 seats in the Parliament.^[3]

In 1995 general election, the party received 1 seat in Parliament.^[3]

In 1998, the party created the coalition named Georgia – Merab Kostava Society with the Ilia Chavchavadze Society, United Republican Party and Georgian Union of Children of God.^[3]

In 1999, the party failed to secure any seats in the Parliament. This was the last time its participation in the elections was recorded.^[1]

Political platform

The party described itself as right-wing, supporting Georgian independence, "fair privatization" and market economy, strong ties with the United States and NATO, "good neighborly relations" with Georgia's neighbors, unitary state on "historical Georgian land" and possible federation with North Caucasus and confederation with other Caucasian states, dissolution of "illegal autonomies" created by the Soviets on Georgian territory (Abkhazian and Adjaran autonomies), independence of North Caucasian nations. The party opposed joining the Russian-led Commonwealth of Independent States.^[3]

Electoral performance

Parliamentary elections

Election	Leader	Votes	%	Seats	+/–	Position	Government	Coalition
1990	Vazha Adamia	1,248,111	54	24 / 250	New	1st	Government	Round Table
1992	Vazha Adamia	65,381	3.3	7 / 225	17	10th	Opposition	Independent
1995	Vazha Adamia	49,829	2.5	1 / 225	6	9th	Opposition	Independent
1999	Vazha Adamia	10,357	0.52	0 / 225	1	10th	Extra-parliamentary	Independent

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "Georgia: The Merab Kostava Society". Refworld. 24 December 2001.
^ შველიძე, დ., „პოლიტიკური დაპირისპირებები და ეროვნული ხელისუფლების დამხობა საქართველოში (1987–1992 წ.წ)", თბილისი : უნივერსალი, 2008
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "მერაბ კოსტავას საზოგადოება". National Parliamentary Library of Georgia.

Political parties in Georgia

Parliamentary majority

Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia
People's Power

Parliamentary opposition

Strength Is in Unity
- United National Movement
- State for the People
- Progress and Freedom
- National Democratic Party
- Victorious Georgia
For Georgia
New Political Center — Girchi
Strategy Aghmashenebeli
European Socialists
Lelo for Georgia
Citizens
Republican Party of Georgia
Law and Justice

Extra-parliamentary parties

Parties with local representation	Ahali European Georgia Alliance of Patriots of Georgia Georgian Labour Party Girchi — More Freedom For the People Free Georgia
Unrepresented	Droa Free Democrats National Forum Georgian March Georgian Idea Democratic Movement – United Georgia European Democrats Greens Party of Georgia Freedom Social Democrats for the Development of Georgia Georgian Troupe Union of Georgian Traditionalists Conservative Party of Georgia Christian-Democratic Movement Industry Will Save Georgia People's Party Ilia Chavchavadze Society Solidarity Alliance of Georgia Unified Communist Party of Georgia Communist Party of Georgia New Communist Party of Georgia

Parties with local representation

Unrepresented