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Opposition Cries Foul Over Enguri HPP Deal

Most of the opposition politicians both in and outside the Parliament have slammed the authorities for striking a deal with the Russian state-controlled Inter RAO over Enguri hydro power plant (HPP).

Georgian Energy Minister, Alexandre Khetaguri, said on January 12 that an agreement has been reached in principle with Inter RAO to jointly manage the largest hydro power plant in the region. He, however, also said that a legally binding agreement has yet to be signed.

“This matter needs a thorough investigation – how it happened that we made a deal with the country with which we have cut diplomatic ties. It is incomprehensible why we are throwing this ace [reference to Enguri HPP], which we hold in respect of Abkhazia,” Levan Berdzenishvili of the Republican Party told Civil.Ge on January 13.

“This is part of capitulation; after the military capitulation now it comes the economic one; it is clear – Saakashvili must go away,” Kakha Kukava, co-leader of the Conservative Party, told Civil.Ge.

“Saakashvili handed over Enguri to Russia, which means end of the energy independence,” Giorgi Gugava of the Labor Party told Civil.Ge. “This is an act of treason, the crime against the state.”

Salome Zourabichvili, a former foreign minister and leader of Georgia’s Way party, said that the authorities had committed “a huge crime” by striking a deal over Enguri HPP.
 
“This government is a traitor, which says, on the one hand, that Russia is an occupant and on the other, it makes a deal with the same country,” Zourabichvili said at a press conference on January 13. “These authorities should go away as soon as possible.”

Some lawmakers from the parliamentary minority have already said that the Energy Ministry would have to present more firm explanation behind its decision to strike a deal with the company, which is controlled by the state, which fought a war with Georgia five months ago.

“We will summon the Energy Minister to explain details of the deal,” MP Levan Vepkhvadze of the Christian-Democratic Party, said on January 12. “We will have a tough conversation.”

MP Vepkhvadze also said that the deal was not in line with the Georgia’s law on occupation, which restricts economic activities in breakaway Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

MP Mikheil Machavariani of the ruling party, who is first vice-speaker of the Parliament, said that the law was not violated.

This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)

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