Lithuanian MEP urges Georgian gov’t to ‘fulfill its agreement’ with opposition
MEP Andrius Kubilius has sent a letter to Georgian top officials. Photo: Luko Balandzio.
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A Lithuanian politician and member of the European Parliament Andrius Kubilius has urged the Georgian Dream government to abide by the March 8 election agreement with the opposition, and raised concerns regarding the recent conviction of several opposition leaders and members.
In letters sent to Georgian top officials, MEP Kubilius mentioned the cases of opposition leaders Gigi Ugulava and Irakli Okruashvili and opposition member Giorgi Rurua.
European partners need a clear confirmation that progress is being made to ensure the necessary conditions for free and fair parliamentary elections in 2020,” Kubilius said.
In the talks mediated by the diplomatic corps, the ruling party and the opposition agreed on March 8 to hold the upcoming parliamentary elections this October with 120 seats in the legislative body distributed via a proportional vote and the remaining 30 via the majoritarian system.
The agreement also foresees a fair composition of election districts, a 1% threshold, and a cap recognising that no single party that wins less than 40% of the votes should be able to get its own majority in the next parliament.
The opposition also said that the ruling party agreed to release opposition leaders and supporters per the agreement.
Vice Parliament Speaker of Georgia Kakha Kuchava has urged MEPs to come to Georgia and look into the cases. Photo: Imedi TV.
The ruling party denies any agreement with the opposition on the release of imprisoned opposition leaders and members, stating that the country has no political prisoners and has invited European Parliament members to look into the cases.
Vice Parliament Speaker Kakha Kuchava has stated that the letter by the MEP was no surprise as “Kubilius is trying to protect his political partner in Georgia.”
Kuchava said that the ruling party has urged MEPs to come to Georgia and look into the cases for which they have questions, adding that ‘no one has come yet.’
A bill has been registered in parliament per the agreement of the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party and the opposition on March 8.
The United National Movement (UNM) opposition party has denied to participate in parliament's work despite the recent election deal with the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party last week, stating that not all conditions of the agreement have been fulfilled.
The ruling Georgian Dream party and the united opposition have reached an agreement on holding the upcoming parliamentary elections this October with 120 seats in the legislative body to be distributed via a proportional vote and the remaining 30 via the majoritarian system.
European Union Ambassador to Georgia Carl Hartzell said that the circumstances around former Minister of Defense Irakli Okruashvili’s case ‘are not conducive to building trust around the historic political agreement reached between all major political parties on March 8 and raises questions about the even-handedness of the follow-up to the events of June 20 2019'.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Archil Talakvadze has urged foreign ambassadors, who mediated election talks between the ruling party and the opposition, to confirm that the Georgian Dream ruling party made no promise to release opposition leaders and members in the March 8 election agreement.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Archil Talakvadze has urged foreign ambassadors, who mediated election talks between the ruling party and the opposition, to confirm that the Georgian Dream ruling party made no promise to release opposition leaders and members in the March 8 election agreement.