MPs React on Opposition Activists’ Arrest

Lawmakers from the ruling party hailed the law enforcement agencies for “highly competent work” to uncover “criminal syndicate” and MPs from the parliamentary minority said “firm evidence” and “transparent investigation” was required to prove that activists from Nino Burjanadze’s party were really linked to illegal purchase of firearms.

Ten persons, nine of them affiliated with Democratic Movement–United Georgia (DMUG) party, have been arrested on charges of illegal purchase of firearms overnight on March 23, according to the Interior Ministry. The police said it was not claiming “political conspiracy” behind the case, but also added that the investigation was still underway. 

MP Giorgi Targamadze, leader of the parliamentary minority and chairman of Christian-Democratic Movement (CDM), said that evidence put forth by the Interior Ministry, including covertly recorded video footage, needed “more convincingness.”

“Everything should be clear and transparent,” MP Giorgi Targamadze said at the parliament’s session on March 24. “What is this? Is this fabricated compilation of evidence in order to make already strained public mood even more strained and frightened? If the facts [provided by the investigation] are real, it is necessary to provide very serious additional evidence and to carry out investigation in a way wherein direct and clear answers are provided on all the questions.”

MP Petre Mamradze, who is a member of the Movement for Fair Georgia, led by former PM Zurab Nogaideli, said that the Interior Ministry lacks public confidence.

“Unfortunately, the authorities are so discredited that I could not find even one person, who would say that believes in authenticity of the video footage [put forth by the investigation as evidence]. Everyone with whom I spoke said that the representatives of opposition parties could not have touched arms. I am in favor of presumption of innocence unless the investigation ascertains the truth,” MP Mamradze said.

In his comments on the matter, MP Petre Tsiskarishvili of the ruling party and the leader of parliamentary majority, recalled armed civil confrontation in Georgia of early 90s and said: ”There still are people in Georgia, who even after 18 years are trying to repeat the scenario of the early nineties.”

“I want to stress on extremely competent and qualified work of the Interior Ministry in uncovering this criminal group, these potential criminals, in eradicating this criminal syndicate in the process of its establishment,” MP Tsiskarishvili said.

“But we should also pay attention to those people, who by various reasons or under the influence of various forces – external or internal enemies – and who already possess firearms,” he added.

MP Giorgi Gabashvili of the ruling party said at the parliamentary session that there “are lines crossing of which makes political affiliation irrelevant.”

“Purchase of Kalashnikov [assault rifles], grenades and other weapons means crossing that line… This move has nothing to do with political affiliations. What we have seen [in the evidence put forth by the investigation] is a criminal act and we will require from our law enforcement agencies to protect the society from acts like these,” MP Gabashvili said.

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