Opposition postpones rally, ‘giving time’ to ruling party to resume talks
Opposition parties say that only repeat elections will solve the current political crisis in Georgia. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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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.
The parties say that ‘there is no alternative to negotiations’ to solve the ‘current political crisis,’ adding that the opposition and the ruling party ‘must come to an agreement’ on repeat elections.
The opposition says that the political crisis in Georgia began in June 2019 when Russian MPs were allowed into the Georgian parliament and the rally on February 25 carried a ‘symbolic connotation.’
February 25 this year marks the 100th anniversary from the Soviet occupation of Georgia. The leader of the United National Movement opposition party Nika Melia is being persecuted for his participation in June 2019 protests,” UNM member Khatia Dekanoidze stated at yesterday’s briefing.
Georgian PM Giorgi Gakharia resigned last week, ‘because he failed to make an agreement with the ruling Georgian Georgian Dream party over the arrest of Melia.’
Melia is charged with incitement to violence during the June 2019 protests and was released on 70,000 GEL bail (40,000GEL was added to the bail in November 2019 for violation of bail conditions).
Opposition parties claim that October 31, 2020 elections in Georgia were fabricated and are demanding repeat elections. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
Melia refused to pay the additional 40,000 GEL and the country’s Chief Prosecutor’s Office demanded his arrest which was allowed by the court earlier last week.
Melia, along with 50 other opposition MPs, is demanding repeat parliamentary elections and has refused to take up his mandate in the 10th convocation of Georgian parliament in protest.
However, the parliament did not vote for the suspension of MP status for 51 opposition MPs earlier this month.
Four meetings have been held between the ruling party and the opposition with the facilitation of foreign ambassadors to help the parties end the current political crisis. However, the meetings ended without the result.
The ruling party says that the October 31, 2020 parliamentary elections were held in the full line with democratic standards.
The election data of NGOs and the country’s Central Election Commission also match.
Only six of 60 opposition MPs have entered the 150-member parliament so far.
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'.
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.
The ruling Georgian Dream party has confirmed a disagreement with recently resigned PM Giorgi Gakharia over the arrest of opposition leader Nika Melia.
Opposition MP and the head of the United National Movement (UNM) opposition party Nika Melia, who was named the reason for PM Giorgi Gakharia recent resignation, has stated that the opposition ‘welcomes’ the PM’s decision, but it is not sufficient.
Georgian PM nominee Irakli Garibashvili says that the ‘door is closed’ for any talks on repeat parliamentary elections.
Georgian Public Defender Nino Lomjaria and Transparency International Georgia NGO have condemned the recent arrest of opposition leader Nika Melia and stated that the move will further complicate current political tension in the country.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has responded to the arrest of opposition leader Nika Melia earlier today and stated that ‘Melia is a criminal’ and that everyone in a democratic state is equal before the law.
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.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia and the ruling Georgian Dream party have reported ongoing cyber attacks on their websites on Tuesday, with party chairperson Mamuka Mdinaradze telling local media the "massed" digital operation was aimed at "destabilising" the political situation in the country.
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.