Opposition speaks about legal cases with diplomatic corps
By Tatia Megeneishvili
Thursday, September 24
The leaders of the United National Movement (UNM) stated that concerns are growing in the international community concerning the ongoing events in Georgia.
The statement was made after the UNM’s meeting with the Diplomatic Corps.
According to the Leader of the UNM, Davit Bakradze, the ambassadors were particularly interested in the Former Mayor, Gigi Ugulava's, imprisonment.
Ugulava was facing several corruption and money laundering related charges. Now he is in prison as Tbilisi City Court found him guilty in one of the charges and sent to prison for 4 year and 6 months, after a day from the release of 14- month pre-trial detention.
“Beside Gigi’s case, the media developments were also one of the main topics. We talked about all the issues, including Rustavi 2’s situation. We tried to provide correct information to them,” stated Bakradze.
The assets of one of the most influential TV channels in Georgia, Rustavi 2, have been frozen by the order of Tbilisi City Court, based on the demand of one the former owners of the media outlet, Kibar Khalvashi. Rustavi 2 claims that the decision has been sponsored by the government that is irritated by the channel’s critical broadcasting.
The Foreign Relations Secretary of the UNM Giga Bokeria underlined the importance of exchanging information with the international community and the diplomatic corps.
“Mainly, the discussion was about the international security issues and serious challenges of the country, which were created in the presence of the current regime. The situation in Georgia is critical and everyone who is watching the ongoing events can see it,” stated Bokeria.
He added that the situation may be changed only if former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili will be removed from the what the UNM believes to be his 'behind the scenes' running of the Georgian Dream party.
“However, we have not discussed Ivanishvili’s removal on the meeting, since this is not a subject that may be discussed with diplomats,” stated Bokeria.
Representatives of the Diplomatic Corps have not made the comments concerning the meeting.
The Government of Georgia stresses that all the legal cases in Georgia are treated based on the law by relevant bodies.
