Yet, the OSCE observation missions deemed those past elections free and fair. Only now has the OSCE some serious criticisms to make on the conduct of the latest poll. After the violent overthrow of the government of Zviad Gamsachurdia in late 1991, supporters of the late president have been harrassed, arrested, and convicted on trumped up charges. Since that time the regions of South Ossetia and Abhazia are de facto separated from the rest of the country, while the governor of the Ajara region rules rather independently from the central administration in Tbilisi. Obviously, the country's economic plight was and is not helped by these events.
Poverty is widespread with no sign of economic improvement.
The parliamentary elections of October 1999 were marred by harrasment and violence towards candidates of the opposition bloc 'Revival'. In fact, since the presidency is limited to at most two five-year terms Eduard Shevardnadze was only able to stand in the 2000 elections by dismissing the idea that his years as Parliamentary Chairman counted towards this, despite the fact that he was ex officio head of state. What is more, the situation in Georgia has, if anything, deteriorated even further since 1995. Although there seems to be less violence and less noticable tension in the street, there are still some 115 people in prison for political reasons relating to the events of 1991-1992, with new cases being added regularly. Still, Manana Gamsachurdia, the widow of the first democratically elected president, suffered serious injuries after having been beaten up after, what she says was, a staged car accident in December 1999.