Opposition Wants Probe into MP, Vice-Speaker’s Activities

Leader of the opposition New Rights party MP Davit Gamkrelidze proposed on September 5 setting up a special parliamentary commission which will probe into MP Koba Bekauri?s and Vice-Speaker Mikheil Machavariani?s alleged commercial wrongdoings related with the customs terminal Opiza, near Tbilisi. Both Bekauri and Machavariani are members of the ruling National Movement party.

Allegations about MP Bekauri and MP Machavariani are linked with the arrest of Shalva Ramishvili, co-founder of the 202 television station. Ramishvili is accused of extorting USD 100,000 from MP Bekauri in exchange for not airing a compromising story related with Bekauri?s activities at the Opiza customs terminal. According to investigative reporting, which 202 TV plans to broadcast, MP Bekauri owns shares in Opiza.

At a news conference on September 5 MP Davit Gamkrelidze said that he met with Shalva Ramishvili on August 12 (Ramishvili was arrested on August 29) and the latter told him that 202 TV planned to broadcast an investigative report in September about Bekauri?s alleged activities.

?He also told me that Mikheil Machavariani was also involved in the wrongdoings and the Vice-Speaker was behind MP Bekauri,? MP Gamkrelidze said, adding that a parliamentary commission should be set up which included the participation of opposition MPs to probe into the case.

But Vice Speaker Machavariani strongly denied allegations at the Parliamentary Bureau session on September 5 and described MP Gamkrelidze?s statements as ?a provocation of a dirty man.?

?This is a provocation which was planned in advance and I was expecting this. If someone proves that I have violated the law, I will never come here [the Parliament] again. I will not tolerate these dirty things from this dirty man,? Mikheil Machavariani said.

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