Ruling Party Offers Opposition Joint Probe into Giorgadze’s Fund

Parliamentarians from the National Movement party called on the opposition MPs on May 29 to set up a joint group which will probe into wanted ex-security chief Igor Giorgadze’s Justice Party and his Foundation activities in Georgia.

In a joint statement issued on May 25, leaders of the four opposition parties – New Rights, Republicans, Conservative and Freedom – condemned Igor Giorgadze’s political activities and alleged that the Saakashvili administration will try to create “a political scarecrow” out of Giorgadze.

“Let us do this [set up a joint parliamentary group] and there will be fewer accusations towards us that we want to create a political scarecrow out of Giorgadze,” MP Maia Nadiradze, the parliamentary majority leader, said at a session of the parliamentary bureau.

Russia-based fugitive Igor Giorgadze, who is wanted by Georgia on terrorism charges, leads the Justice Party (Samartlianoba). The party has affiliated organizations, including ‘Anti-Soros,’ which is a public movement, and Giorgadze’s Foundation, which is described as a charitable organization. The Foundation is chaired by the once influential politician Irina Sarishvili.

The opposition parliamentarians, which have been boycotting parliamentary and bureau sessions for the last two months, downplayed the proposal as unserious.

“I can not understand why a parliamentary group is needed to probe into the Giorgadze’s Foundation. There are special services for probing into terrorists’ funds,” MP Mamuka Katsitadze of the New Rights said on May 29.

“This is unserious. The parliamentary majority simply wants us [opposition lawmakers] to return to the Parliament’s chamber,” said MP Zviad Dzidziguri of the Democratic Front parliamentary faction, which unites parliamentarians from the Conservative and Republican parties.

Some lawmakers from the ruling party, in particular MP Nodar Grigalashvili, even proposed on May 29 to pass a law which will ban former KGB employees from being appointed or elected to official positions.

Last December the opposition Democratic Front faction proposed a draft law on lustration, but the document was rejected by the parliamentary majority.