Alasania: Authorities Try to Scare Off Public from Protest Rallies

Irakli Alasania, the leader of opposition Alliance for Georgia, said that although the authorities were saying that they did not politicize investigation involving Nino Burjanadze’s party activists, the way how audio and vide tapes put forth by the investigation as evidence were being delivered to the public through television stations was showing that the materials were used for political purposes “to scare off the public” from the planned protest rallies.

He told the public TV’s weekly program, Accents, late on March 25, that “such a manipulation” with “a raw material of the investigation” was confusing for the society, as it was not creating a clear picture of circumstances in which the video and audio tapes were made.

“It is the interest of everyone to find out the truth if such criminal acts were really taking place,” he said. “But at the same time I do not see any confirmation in evidence put forth by the investigation that could seed suspicion among the society towards the planned April 9 protest rally. But I see an attempt to scare off the public from expressing its peaceful protest. First of all we all should remember that what is planned by the opposition parties – whether it is the one of April 9 or another – is a peaceful demonstration of protest.”

Alasania also said that he did not rule out that arrested persons were really engaged in criminal actions, but added that as far as the authorities lacked public confidence, involvement of independent experts was required in the process of the investigation.

Asked whether the Alliance for Georgia would join the planned April 9 protest rally, Alasania responded: “Of course. We have a right vision of organizing the April 9 [rally] and we are holding active consultations with our counterparts [from other opposition parties] these days on this matter – what kind the April 9 [rally] should be; we share our views on this matter to our colleagues and I am sure that it will be a large-scale demonstration and it will be peaceful.”

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