Georgian President signs decree terminating US-sanctioned ex-official’s citizenship, vetoes amendments to manifestations law
The termination of Partskhaladze’s Georgian citizenship was “deemed appropriate” on September 20 by the Public Service Development Agency of the Justice Ministry, after the President’s statement that she “was waiting for a decision on the termination of Georgian citizenship for Partskhaladze, which she would immediately comply with”. Photo via Presidential Administration
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Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili on Tuesday signed a decree terminating the citizenship of the United States-sanctioned former Prosecutor General Otar Partskhaladze, as well as vetoed the amendments to the law of Georgia on Assemblies and Manifestations, the Presidential Administration said.
The termination of Partskhaladze’s Georgian citizenship was “deemed appropriate” on September 20 by the Public Service Development Agency of the Justice Ministry, after the President’s statement that she “was waiting for a decision on the termination of Georgian citizenship for Partskhaladze, which she would immediately comply with”.
Partskhaladze was sanctioned by the US State Department on September 14, which alleged that the Russian Federal Security Service had worked with Partskhaladze to influence Georgian society and politics in favour of the Kremlin. The State Security Service of Georgia on September 15 said it had started “studying” the sanctioning of the former official.
The amendments to the domestic law, banning the installation of “temporary constructions” during rallies on specific occasions, were approved by the Georgian Parliament on October 4 in the first of three readings.
The bill, proposed by the ruling Georgian Dream party following claims by the country’s State Security Service of an “unrest” being planned by opposition groups this fall, prohibits setting up of constructions if they “pose threats to demonstrators or other individuals”, or hamper police efforts to ensure order, work of institutions, organisations or other facilities.
Slamming the bill, opposition lawmakers called the amendments “vague” and “targeted against the freedom of assembly and expression”.