A former modest student of journalism and philosophy at the theological seminary, Gigi Ugulava’s political career has developed rapidly since 2004. Now Ugulava is Mayor of Tbilisi and there is also a rumour that Gigi Ugulava controls almost all the TV channels and decides the fate all of the programmes broadcast by these channels. Despite the fact he was once thought of as the President’s heir talk about contradiction between the President and himself has arisen.

What do journalists think about Gigi Ugulava as Mayor and what kind of place does he hold in Georgian politics? What chance does he have of becoming President and how do journalists assess his visit to Sameba Cathedral on 26 May?

Vakhtang Komakhidze believes that Gigi Ugulava does not make any serious political decisions but merely fulfills Mikheil Saakashvili’s instructions.

“There is one simple fact people need to remember: the President is elected and Saakashvili holds the levers of electoral success. Sakkashvili has never said he will either resign or leave the Government. It does not matter what position Saakashvili holds, Prime Minister or Chair of Parliament, he will always be Ugulava’s boss. Ugulava will keep his position for as long as he executes Saakashvili’s orders.

Ugulava went to Sameba Cathedral because Saakashvili told him to, so the decision and outcome cannot be ascribed to Ugulava.

Before you talk about Ugulava interfering in the media you need to have facts. I think there are quite enough to demonstrate that he does. Gigi Ugulava’s role is considered to be the media expert in the Government, and therefore he is expected to control it to suit the Government.

As for assessing Ugulava as a person, only a literary character can be stimated in terms of negative and positive characteristics. In the case of a politician only his decisions are assessed, but Ugulava does not make any decisions. If Saakasvhili leaves Ugulava will follow him for sure.”

Giorgi Gigauri from Asaval Dasavali says that Saakashvili is Eduard Shevardnadze’s perfect pupil.

“The first thing Mikheil Saakshvili learned from his teacher Shevardnadze was to balance political favours and clans. Ugulava is one of his favourites, who over the years has been on Mount Olympus with the President, working on different positions. It is not excluded that Saakashvili is trying to counter Ugulava’s increased influence by promoting other politicians, because for Saakashvili it is most important not to put his own post in danger. Everyone surrounding the President must stand several steps below him.

According to reports Saakashvili is trying to balance Ugulava’s influence withy Merabishvili’s or maybe the contrary. There are many groups in the Government and each is trying to get nearer to the throne than the others, which is why there are always big intrigues in the Government.

Ugulava is Mayor of Tbilisi and controls its budget. Hence Ugulava has big influence in Tbilisi. Today Georgian politics is media politics and we have a TV state, so it is possible that Ugulava controls the TV stations too, and this can in fact be assumed because Saakashvili knows very well that TV propaganda has great importance. Hence a politician who is trying to gain influence and power must have a suitable media outlet to project him and I do not wonder that Ugulava controls such an outlet.

When Giorgi Arveladze was appointed head of Imedi TV Ugulava’s influence decreased. The fact that Ugulava is the only candidate for the post of Mayor in future elections says many things, as it seems Saakashvili does not have any better candidate for this post.

I hope Presidential elections will be held before 2013 but if the miracle happens and Saakashvili lasts till this time I hope we will not have Presidential rule any more. Saakashvili will change the Constitution and the country will be ruled by President and Parliament together. The winning political party or coalition will form the Government and Saakashvili will perhaps become Prime Minister as Putin did in Russia.

Ugulava’s visit to Sameba on 26 May was not his decision but Saakshvili’s, but this proves how much influence Ugulava has at Saakashvili’s door. On 26 May Ugulava was standing at the head of the Government retinue and not scared of the number of people gathered in the Church.

Ugulava is one of the most opaque Mayors. There are many questions about how he has spent the huge budget of Tbilisi. It is clear that Ugulava has learned many things from Saakashvili about how to keep himself in power and it seems that Ugulava will be the main figure in future Mayoral elections.”

Koka Kandiashvili thinks that today Ugulava has as big an influence as any other member of the Government.

“Mikheil Saakashvili’s Government is a clan and Gigi Ugulava is a quite successful representative of that clan. Hence Ugulava has quite a big influence. A number of people could be called Saakashvili’s heir, including Ugulava, Merabishvili and Zura Adeishvili, but in fact they all have the same chance, they simply belong to different clans. Today the disputes between the different clans in the Government are quite severe. Ugulava is one of the ‘slaves’ of Saakashvili.

I do not belong to any of the clans and do not know exactly which clan conrols which media outlet. I do not know exactly which clan runs which TV station but it is a fact that ultimately Saakashvili controls all the channels so it is possible that each clan has appropriated one TV channel for itself. It is worth remarking when there is tension in the country, as for example on 7 November, the TV channels are controlled more tightly.

As for 26 May, by visiting the Cathedral Ugulava tried to save all the clans. Although this was a bit surprising to me I cannot say whether it reflected negatively or positively on his career.

Today Ugulava is the leader one of the Mafia groups in Georgia. I have only good relations with him and I do not like the fact that he has become the leader of a Mafia structure. I do not like his campaigning methods. For example, I pay a fee for parking my car and they give me a receipt saying ‘I love Tbilisi’ which is connected to Ugulava’s electoral campaign. This is being undertaken at public expense. I’m against this.”