NSC Chief Warns Against Blocking Parliament

Alexandre Lomaia, the secretary of the National Security Council (NSC), has said the state will not allow anyone to hinder the activities of the newly elected parliament.

In an interview with the Georgian weekly newspaper Kviris Palitra, published on June 2, Lomaia warned that anyone attempting to hinder Parliament’s activities would be arrested and punished in accordance with the law.

“The law will be applied against those trying to block the parliament,” he said. “If they commit a crime requiring punishment, they will be detained. Will it be necessary to use force?  – The state will use force and such people will be arrested. I take this opportunity to inform your [the newspaper’s] numerous readers about this, as well as those who may have such ideas.”

The eight-party opposition bloc and the Labor Party have called for a large-scale protest rally on the day the newly elected parliament is set to convene for the first time. The opposition has warned that it plans to block the parliament building so as to prevent ruling party MPs gaining access.

“I want to make it clear – any such attempt will be prevented,” Lomaia warned. “The Criminal Code of Georgia envisages appropriate penalties, including imprisonment for a term of about two years. Nobody should assume that the activities of the legally, democratically elected Georgian parliament will be hindered.”

“Interfering with Parliament’s activities by the opposition will entail confrontation… No state is happy to use force against those violating public order. But there are times when the use of force is necessary and the only actor legally entitled to do so is the government. If a criminal offence is committed, the offenders will be punished.”

Despite the opposition boycott of Parliament, Lomaia also suggested that many newly elected opposition lawmakers would eventually take their seats in the legislative body.

“The reality is that the opposition says they will not enter Parliament, but they also say they will follow all the necessary procedures and take their [MP] mandates,” Lomaia said. “This means that what was decided by voters [in the May 21 parliamentary elections] will be formalised– Mikheil Saakashvili’s National Movement will be in the majority and there will be three other opposition parties.”

“Some of those [opposition politicians] who have declared a boycott of the new parliament are just trying to save face.”

Meanwhile, Konstantine Gamsakhurdia, leader of the Freedom Party – part of the eight-party opposition bloc – said in an interview with the Georgian newspaper Versia (Version), published on June 2, that he thought “the united opposition project – to run in the election on a joint ticket has already come to an end.”

“Now each member of the bloc will probably decide whether to remain [in the bloc] or not,” Gamsakhurdia said. When asked whether he himself planned to quit the opposition coalition, Gamsakhurdia responded: “I will refrain from making a statement on that matter.”

He also said: “I have decided not to enter the new parliament, but my decision is personal and I will myself decide when to annul my MP mandate."