Opposition Demands Partially Met as Six ‘Political Prisoners’ Freed

The authorities partially met opposition demands on February 18 with the release of six persons arrested in connection with the November 7 events.

Nino Burjanadze, the parliamentary speaker, said the release of the six was “a serious step” demonstrating the authorities’ determination to follow-up on earlier commitments and agreements.

She also said that “several persons” jailed in connection with the November 7 events remained in prison, but would also be released following “some technical procedures.”

The nine-party opposition coalition has acknowledged the releases, with the Conservative Party, part of the coalition, posting the names of those released on its website on February 18.

The coalition published on February 13 a list of people it wanted released. The list included nine people jailed on public disorder charges and for disobeying police orders, and another nine on drugs-related charges and charges related to the illegal possession of firearms. The opposition, however, claims that the drugs charges were fabricated against people who participated in the anti-government rallies.  

The release of, what the opposition calls, “political prisoners” is one of three key demands it has set as a precondition for the resumption of dialogue with the authorities. The two other demands are the dismissal of Central Election Commission Chairman Levan Tarkhnishvili and General Director of the Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) Tamar Kintsurashvili. The latter said she would resign as soon as a new GPB board of trustees was elected – which is expected to happen at the end of this month.

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