The impression that the preterm elections in Georgia will turn into a naked farce is corroborated, says a comment issued by the department of information and press at the Russian Foreign Ministry.

"Mikhael Saakashvili's recent statements came as start of his election campaign despite demands of the international community to lift the emergency rule and stop persecution of oppositionists… The date for the elections was fixed in an intention to deprive the opposition leaders from any possibility to organize a proper campaign. Furthermore, the authorities staked on low appearance of the voters which will be conditioned by the New Year and Christmas holidays," the statement says.

"Undisguised Russophobia becomes the core of the election campaign," it says.