PACE co-rapporteurs leave Georgia with several concerns

Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) co-rapporteurs Michael Jensen and Boris Silevich have left Georgia with several concerns.

The PACE co-rapporteurs summarized their two-day visit in Georgia at a news conference last night.   Jensen of Denmark and Silevich of Latvia expressed their concern about four main issues; allegations of the former PM Vano Merabishvili, the suspension of Tbilisi Mayor, the Municipal Government reform and repatriation of Meskhetian Turks.

Jensen stated the pair had tried to get clear and complete information about Vano Merabishvilis allegations towards the Ministry of Corrections and former Chief Prosecutor, about taking him out of the prison and being blackmailed but their efforts ended unsuccessfully.  

"Even today, we have no clear image of what happened, Jensen said.  

He said he was surprised how difficult it had been to even review video footage that had been stored and saved.  

"It seems like the Georgian Government was in trouble to clearly state whether those recording are still available or not, and if yes whether we could review them or not, Jensen said.  

In regards to the issue surrounding suspended Mayor Gigi Ugulava, Jensen said it was "troubling" when the only directly elected mayor was suspended as a result of a court decision.  

"Particularly when it happens few months earlier before the local government elections, he said.  

In addition Boris Silevich underlined two other issues that deserved "very serious attention".  

He said the Municipal Government Reform and legal changes in municipal government elections proposed by the majority were concerning, considering it was less than six months until the Local Government Elections "and rules of the game are still unclear".

He also said Georgia's obligation to repatriate Meskhetian Turks was still not fulfilled.  

"It is true that the law is adopted but the process itself is going slowly," he addmited.

Silevich expressed his concern about tens of thousands of complaints to the Prosecutor's Office regarding improper execution of justice by the former government, which are waiting to be considered.

"It is very important to us that the whole law enforcement process, including the Prosecutor's office and the court, are working in a way that is in accordance with EC standards," he said.  

The PACE co-rapporteurs answered questions about the completion of the Public Broadcasters Board and current situation in villages near the breakaway regions where barbed wire had been installed from the Russian soliders.  

Jensen and Silevich stressed that PACE and EU had not changed their position towards the breakaway regions of Georgia, and still strictly demanded Russia to fulfill the Six-Point  Ceasefire Agreement, however small progress could be seen in this direction.  

During the visit, a larger PACE delegation, including Monitoring Committee members, met with Georgias Ombudsman Ucha Nanuashvili, State Minister for Reconciliation and Civil Equality Paata Zakareishvili, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, President Giorgi Margvelashvili, members of the Parliamentary Majority, Minister of Justice Tea Tsulukiani, Minister of Corrections and Legal Assistance Sozar Subari and Chief Prosecution employees.  

Jensen and Silevich mentioned they would prepare a special report based on their regular monitoring mission to Georgia for the April session of the Parliamentary Council of Europe. The rapporteurs planned to return to Georgia in Spring.