US embassy ‘disappointed’ that opposition leader’s arrest put election talks at risk
The US embassy was one of those which has mediated an 2020 election-related dialogue between the ruling party and the opposition. Photo: KCCT.
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The US embassy to Georgia has reported that they are disappointed that the timing and context of the conviction and sentencing of an opposition leader Gigi Ugulava yesterday has put the election dialogue between opposition parties and the ruling Georgian Dream party at risk.
An environment conducive to the successful continuation of the dialogue requires an independent, transparent judicial system free of political influence. We call on all sides to remain committed to the political dialogue, as well as further refinements to the electoral code, as the best way to create the conditions for free and fair elections,” the embassy said.
Ugulava, who was the ex-Tbilisi mayor under the United National Movement leadership and now a current leader of the European Georgia opposition party, has been sentenced to three years and two months in prison for embezzlement of 48 million state funds while in office.
The opposition has suspended 2020 election-related negotiations with the ruling party because of the ‘politically motivated detention.’
The ruling party says that there is ‘no political persecution in the country and if somebody commits a crime he must be held accountable.’
The European Georgia opposition party leader David Bakradze has stated that opposition parties are suspending the dialogue with the ruling Georgia Dream party on 2020 election issue after the sentencing of European Georgia opposition party leader Gigi Ugulava to three years and two months in prison by the Georgian Supreme Court yesterday.
Leader of European Georgia opposition party and ex-Mayor of Tbilisi Gigi Ugulava has been sentenced to three years and two months in prison by Georgian Supreme Court for the embezzlement of 48 million GEL from Tbilisi Municipal Development fund while in office. In February 2018 the Tbilisi Court of Appeals also sentenced Ugulava to one year and three months to prison in the case. However, the sentence was absorbed by another sentence Ugulava faced.
Bail has been set at 2,000 GEL for former Tbilisi Mayor Gigi Ugulava, who was charged with physical assault after a recent incident involving athletes at Tbilisi International Airport.
Former Tbilisi Mayor Gigi Ugulava was charged with physical assault after an incident involving athletes at Tbilisi International Airport yesterday.
British Embassy to Georgia has stated that the recent sentencing of opposition European Georgia leader Gigi Ugulava “leaves unanswered questions” concerning the timing and process. "As a friend and a strategic partner”, it encourages steps “to narrow divisions and reinforce democracy” in Georgia.
The ruling Georgian Dream party has urged opposition parties to resume negotiations with them on the 2020 elections, as the opposition decided to suspend dialogue after the conviction of opposition leader Gigi Ugulava earlier this week for embezzlement of 48 million GEL while serving as Tbilisi mayor. 'Being in politics must not be an indulgence to any politician, no matter which party he belongs to. Everyone is equal before law,” Mdinaradze said.
Ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party Secretary General, Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze and the party’s Executive Secretary Irakli Kobakhidze have offered MEPs in the European parliament to create a special mission, composed of members of different political groups, to look into the embezzlement case involving opposition leader Gigi Ugulava.
Tbilisi Mayor and Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party Kakha Kaladze and the party’s Executive Secretary Irakli Kobakhidze met with European Parliament Members in Strasbourg yesterday. During the meetings, they discussed a number of current issues, including the recent detention of former Tbilisi Mayor and current opposition European Georgia leader Gigi Ugulava.
Members of the European Parliament have welcomed the offer of the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party on the creation of a fact-finding commission into the arrested opposition leader Gigi Ugulava’s case, while the opposition is skeptical of the idea.Ruling party officials proposed MEPs in Strasbourg yesterday to create a commission and come to Georgia to look into Ugulava’s case, ‘to make sure there is no political persecution’ in Georgia.
The ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party has expressed readiness to meet with separate opposition parties as well as the united opposition to reach a deal with them on how to hold the 2020 parliamentary elections. The United National Movement opposition says that it is an attempt to ‘divide and run,’ stating that the ruling party will not achieve its goal “to split the opposition’s unity’ around the election topic.
The Georgian opposition parties plan to nominate joint majoritarian candidates if the upcoming parliamentary elections later this year will be held per the existing electoral system, with 77 seats in the legislative body distributed via proportional voting and the remaining 73 via the majoritarian system.