Parliamentary commission to investigate possible violations in October 31 election
The legislators have agreed to establish the three-month commission at a plenary session earlier today. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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The Georgian parliament has formed a temporary commission to investigate alleged election violations and their impact on the results of the October 31 parliamentary election.
The author of the bill - ruling Georgian Dream party member Mamuka Mdinaradze has called on the opposition MPs to join the commission to answer the questions remaining about the election results.
The door to participate in [the activities of] the investigative commission remains open”, Mdinaradze addressed opposition politicians.
Former members of the Alliance of Patriots who have recently established the European Socialists’ party - Prison Injia and Davit Zilpimiani - will join the investigative commission.
Meanwhile, members of the Citizens party - Aleko Elisashvili and Levan Ioseliani - refuse to join without other opposition politicians, including the United National Movement and the European Georgia.
As of now only six opposition politicians have taken up their mandates in the 150-member parliament. 51 other opposition MPs refuse to enter the parliament so far, but the ruling party did not suspend their mandates earlier this month. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
Speaker Archil Talakvadze has meanwhile stated that the international observers have ‘clearly stated’ that the recent parliamentary elections were ‘competitive and, overall, fundamental freedoms were respected’.
Therefore, he said, ‘it is in everyone’s interest’ to find out the possible shortcomings they had been referring to in previous months and ‘to finally establish the truth’ together.
Claiming that the elections were rigged in favour of the Georgian Dream, opposition parties and election blocs qualified for parliamentary seats in October 31 parliament elections, demand repeat elections.
The ruling party had promised to accept repeat elections if a temporary investigative commission created by the 10th convocation of the parliament of Georgia reveals that at least 1% of votes were rigged or falsified.