18 opposition parties continue to demand gov’t ‘fully abide’ by March 8 election agreement

Eighteen opposition parties, who participated in the election talks with the ruling Georgian Dream party mediated by the diplomatic corps, continue to demand the ruling party ‘fully abide’ by the March 8 election agreement and release co-founder of the opposition-minded TV channel Mtavari Arkhi Giorgi Rurua. 

The statement comes after the opposition’s refusal to vote for the constitutional amendments on June 29, per the March 8 election agreement. 

The opposition, who supported the changes, said that they did not participate in the vote because Rurua remained ‘illegally detained’ for alleged illegal possession of firearms.  

In today’s statement the opposition says that the ruling party ‘was forced’ to adopt the changes ‘due to the pressure by the Georgian people, the international community and the unity of the opposition.’ 

The release of Rurua is a major issue for the people for whom the rule of law is crucial in the country,” said the statement. 

The opposition claims that the ruling party ‘accepted the release’ of Rurua in the March 8 election agreement along with opposition leaders Gigi Ugulava and Irakli Okruashvili. 

PM Giorgi Gakharia stated that the parties who refused to vote for the bill did so because of their ‘egoism and narrow political interests and they justify [their refusal to vote for the bill because of a factual, criminal case]...the move will not work in the eyes of the Georgian people.’ Photo: government of Georgia press office.

The ruling party says this is a lie. 

The opposition recently criticised the German ambassador to Georgia, one of facilitators of the election talks, who said prior to the vote on the constitutional changes that Rurua was not mentioned in the March 8 election agreement. 

• Ruling party says ‘radical opposition’ chooses ‘anti-western’ statements, campaign

The ruling party says that the opposition is ‘destructive’ and through the refusal to vote for the constitutional changes they (the opposition) violated the March 8 election agreement.