Lelo calls on ruling party to begin talks w. int'l partners to solve political crisis

Responding to the resignation of Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, the Lelo for Georgia opposition party said ‘this is the right step, which creates an opportunity to defuse the existing political crisis’. 

Party leader Badri Japaridze has called on the ruling Georgian Dream party to immediately start negotiations involving international partners in order to reach a political agreement between the opposition and the ruling party.

The agreement should include snap elections, the cessation of all politically motivated criminal cases and full implementation of the March 8 agreement. The agreement should also include  immediate release of people detained on political grounds, including Giorgi Rurua (co-founder of Mtavari Arkhi channel), who is recognised by the international community as a political prisoner”, said Lelo for Georgia party leader Badri Japaridze today.

Japaridze also said that the agreement between the opposition and the ruling GD party should include changes in the election legislation, the renewal of the election commission, and the creation of a calm election environment which ‘will ensure political peace in the country.‘

• Georgian PM Giorgi Gakharia resigns
• Melia: we welcome PM’s resignation, now repeat elections must be held

Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia announced his resignation earlier today, saying that the step is connected with the arrest warrant for opposition MP and the head of the United National Movement opposition party Nika Melia.

Gakharia said that Melia violated the law and has been engaged in sparking tension in the country, however he also said that ‘if the enforcement of justice threatens the life and the health of citizens or creates the possibility for destabilization in the country,[it] is unacceptable.’

Tbilisi City Court ruled yesterday that Melia be remanded into custody for failure to post bail, per the request of the country’s Prosecutor’s Office.

Parliament suspended the MP status of Melia on February 16, allowing the prosecution to demand his arrest claiming the latter has not posted bail for his release in a case that dates back to the June 2019 protests.