Opposition activist denied bail after election agreement
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Besik Tamliani, who stands charged with violence and disobedience to police during the June protests in Tbilisi last year, has been refused bail.
Tamliani is among the four opposition leaders and activists who are described as ‘political prisoners’ by the opposition.
They say that the ruling party accepted the release of Gigi Ugulava, Giorgi Rurua, Besik Tamliani and Irakli Okruashvili in the election agreement made on March 8, with the mediation of the diplomatic corps.
The Georgian Interior Ministry released a video which detects Besik Tamliani at June 20. 2019 rally in central Tbilisi.
However, the ruling party says that no such deal was made and that there are no political prisoners in Georgia.
During today’s trial at Tbilisi City Court Tamliani requested 1,000 GEL bail. However, the judge said that there is the possibility of Tamliani going on the run or influencing witnesses and thus denied him bail.
Tamliani, who does not admit to the charge, protested the decision and was dismissed from the hall by the judge.
If found guilty Tamliani will be sentenced to four to six years in prison.
The ruling Georgian Dream party says that it is fulfilling all the conditions of the election agreement made with the opposition last week with the mediation of the diplomatic corps, responding to allegations of the opposition regarding the release of imprisoned opposition leaders and members.
The US Department of State has welcomed an agreement between the ruling Georgian Dream party and the opposition on how to hold the 2020 parliamentary elections, stating that is a ‘crucial step towards depolarisation and normalisation of the political environment in Georgia,’ in the run-up to the race.
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.
Several opposition parties adopted a joint statement earlier today, after making an election deal with the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party yesterday, stating that despite the agreement on the 2020 elections, the ruling party and the opposition still fail to agree about the status of people ‘detained on political grounds.’
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.
Foreign ambassadors in Georgia, who have been working as facilitators in the dialogue between the government and opposition on 2020 election model, on Monday responded to calls to confirm contents of the March 8 agreement between the two parties by calling on them to "uphold" the deal.
Three opposition activists who were arrested at a solidarity rally for the currently imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili in November have been released on ₾5,000 ($1,800) bail for each on Friday by Tbilisi City Court.