Parliament official denounces “misinformative” declaration by group of PACE MPs

Rati Ionatamishvili, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament’s Human Rights and Civil Integration Committee, on Friday said a critical declaration issued by 24 MPs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on the upcoming elections in the country had “not been made on behalf of the body”.

Ionatamishvili’s comment followed after the declaration - entitled Elections in Georgia - Alarming developments - on Thursday claimed the country’s Central Election Commission had recently been “brought under the control of the ruling Georgian Dream party” ahead of the parliamentary elections scheduled for October 26.

In fact, there is no statement from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe - there is [only] a declaration from 24 actors. If we look at the list, we will see that they have something to do with the United National Movement [domestic opposition party], because the author [of the declaration] was [former President] Mikheil Saakashvili's adviser in security matters in 2008”, the Parliament official said in reference to Eerik-Niiles Kross, a member of the Estonian Parliament.

“The public knows how the then [UNM] Government protected our country's security, so just as [Kross’] advice had no value at that time, so are his written texts. It is unfortunate that 24 people have become a source of misinformation, because the public sees that the electoral process is taking place in a peaceful environment, and they want to spread lies as if someone is going to steal something. The results of the elections will be devastating for the opposition”, he concluded.

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Thursday said the declaration had “no value”, and further claimed it was “full of lies”.