GD for, For Georgia against creation of parliamentary commission on Saakashvili’s case

The ruling Georgian Dream party leadership say that they are not against the creation of a temporary parliamentary commission on former president Mikheil Saakashvili’s case, who claims he was a victim of inhuman and degrading treatment while in prison in Georgia. 

The For Georgia party, which was founded by ex-PM Giorgi Gakharia last year, however, says that it is not the right time for the creation of the commission. 

The party says that the State Inspector’s Service has not been abolished so far which is authorized to investigate such cases.

The For Georgia also states that Saakashvili’s United National Movement (UNM) refused to enter parliament when MPs were about to vote for the abolishment of the independent body ‘through the initiative of the ruling party.’ “It was unimaginable that the UNM did not appear in the state legislature during the vote. It was actually the support of the ruling party by them to abolish the State Inspector’s Service,” For Georgia says. 

Saakashvili, who was arrested in Tbilisi on October 1 after eight years in political exile, is demanding the creation of the investigative commission. 

The creation of such a commission needs the support of at least 50 MPs in the 150-member parliament in which the opposition occupies 66 seats. 

The UNM says that they will end boycotting the parliament if such a commission is created, noting that they are holding consultations with parliamentary opposition for this.