Opposition Vows to Continue Campaign
A group of ten opposition parties said in a joint statement they would remain committed to their plans and would continue to campaign for parliamentary election in April, instead of late 2008.
The parties launched a nationwide campaign for early elections following the arrest of the ex-defense minister, Irakli Okruashvili. However, on October 8 the General Prosecutor?s Office released video footage of Okruashvili telling investigators that he was guilty of extortion and negligence while serving as Defense Minister. He also retracted accusation levelled against President Saakashvili two days before he was arrested on September 27. Okruashvili will be released if he posts GEL 10 million bail.
Okruashvili’s climb-down has given the upper hand to the authorities in a heated political standoff. Opposition politicians, however, have dismissed the confession, saying it was made under duress, and have vowed to continue their campaign.
?This will not alter our plans,? MP Zviad Dzidziguri said at a joint news conference by opposition leaders outside Parliament late in the evening on October 8. ?We will gather here and hold a mass protest rally on November 2 as we planned? We want free elections.?
Meanwhile, President Saakashvili met with lawmakers from his ruling party on October 8. The parliamentarians confirmed after the meeting that the on-going controversy had been discussed.
?The president told us not to yield to any provocation masterminded by the opposition,? MP Nino Nakashidze told reporters afterwards.
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