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”.
The Public Service Development Agency of the Justice Ministry on Wednesday said it had deemed it appropriate to terminate the Georgian citizenship of the United States-sanctioned former Prosecutor General Otar Partskhaladze.
The Georgian State Security Service on Monday claimed it had uncovered a plan by former officials of the previous United National Movement Government who were aiming to cause “civil unrest” and overthrow the country’s Government using a “Euromaidan scenario” this fall.
Mamuka Mdinaradze, the Executive Secretary of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Tuesday commented on the draft amendments to the law of Georgia on Assemblies and Manifestations and said “it is our obligation to prevent unrest” in the country both at the legislative and practical levels, as “revolutionary” actions were planned this fall.
Iraikli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday said "punishing citizens without a court verdict" had become a "thing of the past”, in comments on the Georgian National Bank’s decision to exempt Georgian citizens from the international sanctions in Russia for its invasion of Ukraine without domestic court judgement.
Grigol Liluashvili, the head of the Georgian State Security Service, on Thursday said Tbilisi had not received “any evidence” from the United States which could prove the guilt of Otar Partskhaladze, the former Prosecutor General of Georgia who was sanctioned by the State Department in September for his alleged cooperation with the Russian intelligence.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Friday said the United States Department of State had presented “no evidence” backing its sanctioning of Georgian judges and former Prosecutor General Otar Partskhaladze seven and one month from the decisions respectively.
Irakli Shotadze, the Prosecutor General of Georgia, on Tuesday said Otar Partskhaladze, the former Prosecutor General of Georgia who was in September sanctioned by the United States for alleged links with the Russian intelligence, had had “no connection” with the state body over the past 10 years.
Kakha Kaladze, the Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party and Mayor of Tbilisi, on Sunday highlighted the importance of the bill approved by lawmakers to limit installation of constructions during public rallies.
The Georgian Parliament has approved amendments to the law on Citizenship that further simplify procedures for obtaining it for stateless individuals who have spent time in residence in the country.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday claimed the adoption of the recent amendments to the Law on Broadcasting, which extends the power of the National Communications Commission in regulating hate speech and incitement to terrorism, had been a “demand of the European Union”.
The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights this week disapproved of the bill proposed by the Georgian Dream ruling party in September to limit erection of temporary constructions during rallies as “disproportionate”, with a potential “chilling effect on the exercise of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly”.
Mamuka Mdinaradze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party in the Parliament, on Wednesday said the country’s State Security Service was investigating alleged links of Otar Partskhaladze, the former Prosecutor General of Georgia, with Russian intelligence “despite no evidence” having been provided by United States authorities in their sanctioning of the former official.