Paper Speculates on Inner-Party Struggle in Ruling Party
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| Koba Bekauri and MP Maia Nadiradze. April, 2005 |
According to the paper, a disagreement between the key figures in the parliamentary majority became public after MP Nadiradze accused Koba Bekauri, parliamentarian from the ruling party, of an attempt to gather evidence allegedly compromising her and her family. “Bekauri is my enemy, he was trying to find compromising materials against me,” MP Nadiradze said.
MP Bekauri, who was a key figure in a scandal involving commercial wrongdoings in the customs terminal Opiza, announced on February 18 that he will quit the Parliament. Bekauri is a close associate of MP Davit Kirkitadze, deputy chairman of the parliamentary majority, according to Rezonansi, which says that “Bekauri was sacrificed to save the reputation of the [ruling] party,” which was largely damaged because of Bekauri’s suspected wrongdoings in the customs terminal Opiza.
“Confrontation between Nadiradze and Kirkitadze is not a news. Relations between them are becoming further strained. It is rumored that the leader of parliamentary majority is irritated by increasing influence of her deputy,” the Rezonansi says.
According to the paper, MP Kirkitadze “has found a common language with Vice-Speaker Mikheil Machavariani” and this team “is becoming a key force” in the ruling party.
On February 20 opposition parliamentary faction Democratic Front demanded to set up an investigative commission, which will probe into alleged business interests of MP Maia Nadiradze and her husband Zurab Chikviladze, who is the chief of the Transport Service Department at the Tbilisi Mayor’s Office.
According to Rezonansi, despite strengthening positions of “Kirkitadze-Machavariani team” MP Giga Bokeria and his allies, including MPs Givi Targamadze, Nika Rurua, Nika Gvaramia, Nino Kalandadze, still remain a key force in the Parliament.
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