Gakharia after resignation: confrontation, rivalry in Georgia endanger democratic, economic development
Giorgi Gakharia said he hopes his step will help 'reduce polarisation and deescalate the situation' in the country. Photo: PM's press office
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Former Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, who resigned earlier today amid a disagreement with the ruling Georgian Dream party over the detention of opposition leader Nika Melia’s detention, said ‘confrontation and rivalry’ in Georgia endanger its future democratic and economic development.
I believe that confrontation and rivalry within the country endanger the future of ????????'s democratic & economic development. Therefore, I have announced my resignation in the hope to reduce polarization & deescalate the situation.
— Giorgi Gakharia (@GakhariaGiorgi) February 18, 2021
Announcing his resignation, Gakharia said his decision was connected with the upcoming arrest of the United National Movement opposition party chair following yesterday's court ruling.
He said although Melia had violated the law and has been engaged in sparking tension in the country, it was not the right time for his detention.
Confirming the disagreement with Gakharia over Melia's arrest the ruling party chair Irakli Kobakhidze said the reasons named by Gakharia why the opposition leader should not be arrested were ‘weak.’
The ruling Georgian Dream party has already nominated acting Defence Minister Irakli Garibashvili for the premiership following Gakharia's resignation.
Georgian PM Gakharia has resigned this morning. The Parliament will form the new Cabinet.
— Georgian Dream (@GeorgianDream41) February 18, 2021
PM’s resignation means that his cabinet is also suspended and the parliament will have to approve a new PM and cabinet in two weeks.
If parliament fails to approve the new government, the president will dismiss the parliament and snap parliamentary elections will be scheduled.
The European Union urges the Georgian authorities and opposition ‘to act with utmost restraint and responsibility to avoid further escalation’ following a court’s decision to issue an arrest warrant for United National Movement chair Nika Melia and the ‘subsequent resignation’ of Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia.
The Georgian Dream ruling party has nominated Defense Minister Irakli Garibashvili, 39, for the premiership earlier today, following the resignation of Giorgi Gakharia. This is the second time the Georgian Dream has nominated Garibashvili for the premiership. Initially he served as PM between November 2013 and December 2015. He was the second PM under the Georgian Dream leadership, replacing the founder of the party Bidzina Ivanishvili in the role.
The ruling Georgian Dream party MP Nikoloz Samkharadze stated earlier today that ‘as far as I know PM Giorgi Gakharia not only resigned but also left the Georgian Dream.’
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia has announced his resignation earlier today, saying that the step is connected with the upcoming arrest of the opposition MP, the head of the United National Movement opposition party Nika Melia. Gakharia has stated that Melia violated the law and has been engaged in sparking tension in the country.
Ruling Georgian Dream party member Mamuka Mdinaradze says that any discussion on holding repeat parliamentary elections is ‘speculative', responding to the opposition’s demand that snap elections be held in the country. Preparing to form a new cabinet of ministers in the coming days, Parliament Speaker Archil Talakvadze said the Georgian Dream 'is in full control of its move forward'.
The Georgian Interior Ministry announced late yesterday that 25 individuals who had been detained by police while trying to set up tents in front of the parliament building have been released.
Georgian opposition parties which won seats in the October 31, 2020 parliamentary elections and who demand repeat elections have postponed a rally on February 25 to ‘give time to the ruling Georgian Dream party’ to resume talks.
Georgian opposition parties which won seats in the October 31, 2020 parliamentary elections and who demand repeat elections have postponed a rally on February 25 to ‘give time to the ruling Georgian Dream party’ to resume talks.
Foreign diplomats and politicians have expressed concern over the special operation of Georgian police which stormed the United National Movement office this morning to arrest its chair Nika Melia.
Former opposition MP and the head of the United National Movement opposition party Nika Melia has been arrested by police earlier today for refusal to post bail shortly after the parliament approved Irakli Garibashvili prime minister and his cabinet late yesterday. Melia was arrested in his office in the UNM headquarters in Tbilisi by special unit servicemen. Police allegedly used pepper spray in the room.
Georgia's former prime minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili and former foreign minister Mikheil Janelidze have reacted to the arrest of opposition leader Nika Melia on Tuesday and subsequent political tensions in the country by calling on the government to avoid confrontation, with Janelidze also making a call for repeat parliamentary elections.
Former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia’s recently launched political party For Georgia has received 296,266 GEL (about $95,326/€81,385) in donations within the last several months while the ruling Georgian Dream party’s Head Irakli Kobakhidze accused Gakharia that its party is financed from Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili.