MPs Vote Down Commission to Probe into Journalist Arrest
The Georgian Parliament voted against an initiative put forth by the opposition New Rights faction regarding the setting-up of a special parliamentary commission to probe into the case involving the detention of co-founder of 202 TV Shalva Ramishvili and MP Koba Bekauri?s alleged wrongdoings related with the Opiza customs terminal.
Shalva Ramishvili was arrested on August 27 on extortion charges and is charged with blackmailing MP Koba Bekauri for USD 100,000 and threatening to air a compromising story related to Bekauri?s activities at the Opiza customs terminal if the parliamentarian didn’t pay. Ramishvili, who claims innocence, says that the case was fabricated against him.
The opposition parliamentarians demanded that a commission be set up in an attempt to ensure an impartial investigation into the case. But the MPs from the ruling National Movement party claimed that it was inappropriate to create a parliamentary commission in the process of the investigation.
?If questions still remain after the law enforcers finish their investigation, then it will be acceptable to set up a commission,? Nino Burjanadze, the Parliamentary Chairperson, said.
This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian)
