British Embassy says opposition leader’s sentencing ‘leaves unanswered questions’
The Supreme Court of Georgia has sentenced opposition leader and ex-Mayor of Tbilisi Gigi Ugulava to three years and two months in prison for the embezzlement of 48 million GEL from Tbilisi Municipal Development fund while in office. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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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.
Sentencing of opposition leader #Ugulava leaves unanswered questions around timing & process. Also impacts on dialogue on electoral system that will earn trust of #Georgia|n electorate. As friend & strategic partner, UK encourages steps to narrow divisions & reinforce democracy.
— UK in Georgia (@UKinGeorgia) February 11, 2020
The British Embassy said that, “as a friend and a strategic partner”, it encourages steps “to narrow divisions and reinforce democracy” in Georgia.
ოპოზიციის ლიდერის, გიგი უგულავას დაპატიმრებასთან დაკავშირებით განცხადება ქართულ ენაზე იხილეთ აქ:https://t.co/Tzjqx3lDP0 https://t.co/YV5pfE4gCp
— UK in Georgia (@UKinGeorgia) February 11, 2020
Yesterday, Supreme Court of Georgia sentenced opposition leader and ex-Mayor of Tbilisi Gigi Ugulava to three years and two months in prison for the embezzlement of 48 million GEL from Tbilisi Municipal Development fund while in office.
Therefore, the united opposition has suspended a dialogue with the ruling party over the upcoming parliamentary polls in 2020 and announced a large-scale rally at the Rustaveli Avenue in downtown Tbilisi on April 4 instead.
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. 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.
Ruling party MP Mamuka Mdinaradze has responded to US Congressman Adam Kinzinger’s concern on the arrest of the opposition leader Gigi Ugulava by saying that the court was used as a weapon under the United National Movement government (UNM) that Ugulava belonged to.
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.
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.
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.
A Tbilisi City Court judge has annulled the pretrial measure for former Tbilisi Mayor, now leader of the European Georgia opposition party Gigi Ugulava, for an incident at Tbilisi International Airport in December 2019 as he was arrested earlier this year for another case for the embezzlement of 48 million GEL of state funds while in office.