Russian MP Gavrilov takes the seat of Chairman of Georgian Parliament during Assembly, sparks massive outrage and protests
By Natalia Kochiashvili and Tea Mariamidze
Friday, June 21
For the first time after Georgia-Russia August war 2008, which left 20% of Georgia’s territories occupied by its northern neighbor, Russian MPs appeared in the Georgian Parliament on June 20 in the format of Inter-parliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (IAO) session.
The 26th session of the Inter-parliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (IAO) started on June 19 in the hall of ceremonies in Tbilisi and was supposed to last till June 23. Up to 100 representatives from more than 20 different countries participated in the session, among them were 6 representatives from Russia headed by communist MP Sergei Gavrilov.
The IAO was first created with the initiative of the Greek Parliament. The Parliament of Georgia joined the Assembly in 2013. This year Georgian delegation was headed by MP from Georgian Dream, Zakaria Kutsnashvili, members of the delegation included Dimitri Khundadze, Enzadela Machavariani, Ada Marshania and Zviad Dzidziguri. As the head of the delegation has announced earlier, this Assembly was supposed to popularize religious tourism in Georgia. And regarding the Russian MP’s presence in Georgia, he said the assessments of the opposition were “extra,” adding Russia is the member of AIO and the participation of the Russian delegation is nothing unusual.
Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia, Irakli Kobakhidze attended the opening meeting and addressed the participants. “Unfortunately, the most painful problem of our country – a violation of territorial integrity is a result of the actions of our orthodox neighbor’s political leaders. This reminds us, that recognition of Christian values is not sufficient, because Christianity and Orthodox should be expressed in actions that are in accordance with beliefs,” said Kobakhidze.
The Russian duma deputy and the president of the Assembly Sergei Gavrilov also made a speech on that day: "I am convinced that the 26th session of our Assembly will play an important role in the understanding of the events facing the Orthodox world, including peace between the various peoples and confessions, and the Assembly to be able to defend the Christians from various oppression," said Gavrilov.
Gavrilov stated he has never participated in any hostilities in Abkhazia. He believes that Russia and Georgia should resume relations in many directions.
The Russian MP also responded to the question if he feels uncomfortable while being in the country, 20% of which is occupied by Russia.
“I have no discomfort at all. I am very happy. Georgia is my homeland,” he responded.
Moreover, Ihor Dolhov, the Ambassador of Ukraine to Georgia, left the reception held within the IAO in protest when Sergey Gavrilov, was delivering a speech.
The Ukrainian diplomat underlined that “Russia continues occupying Ukraine and Georgia and it contradicts all international norms.” Must also be noted, that Gavrilov is against the separation of Ukrainian Church from the Russian one.
The participation of the Russian MPs in the event was protested by a part of Georgians and opposition parties, who held a protest rally on the opening day of the Assembly in front of the palace of ceremonies, accusing Gavrilov of being Putin’s “ideological ally” and claiming he took part in the hostilities in Georgia’s Russian occupied Abkhazia in 1990s.
Besides, they claim that the draft law, initiated by Sergey Gavrilov in 2011, provided great assistance to the regimes of Abkhazia and so-called South Ossetia. The demonstrators criticized the Georgian government and Church for “letting in the Russian MPs.”
Protesters held banners saying “Russia is an Occupier”, “Samachablo and Abkhazia Georgia”, “Gavrilov KGB”, “Occupants, leave Georgia”, “Russia take your soldiers from Georgia” Conducting the 26th session.
Zaal Udumashvili, a member of the National Movement Party, said that the presence of a Russian deputy in Georgia was a shame. Giga Makarashvili, one of the participants of the rally, said that Gavrilov is a personal enemy of Georgia and a good government would not invite him.
The opening meeting ended with Gala reception hosted by Irakli Kobakhidze. During the reception, traditional Georgian dances were performed and later Jazz band played for the MPs according to the organization “Money Waste Detector” the assembly cost budget of Georgia 30 270 Gels.
According to the official agenda, on June 20 the Assembly was supposed to discuss financial reports, termination of powers for officials, renewal and future activities, and renewal of the composition of the Assembly and action plan. However, matters took a different turn on that day. The session that started in the Parliament of Georgia was suspended after protesters gathered at the entrances of the Parliament and the opposition MPs interrupted the process– the last drop was seeing Gavrilov addressing the audience from the seat of the chairman of Georgian Parliament.
The session has been stopped, yet citizens continued the protest holding "Stop Russia" posters. After Russian MPs left the building of the parliament protesters followed them to Hotel “Radison” demanding Russian delegation to leave the country. Due to the rally, Gavrilov had to leave to the hotel with the help of the police. After he left the protest continued in front of the Parliament on Rustaveli Avenue.
The ruling party stated that the Russian MPs are leaving the county, and the Assembly will not be held in the way as it started. The party called the behavior of Gavrilov “alarming and unacceptable” when he took the seat of Georgian parliamentary speaker and addressed the audience from the high tribune. The ruling party says that the organizers of the event must provide explanations for why it has happened.
President of Georgia responded to the events on the social network, saying: ”What the Orthodox Union and the relationship may exist between us and the country, which is not an occupier of our territories, but also against religion and all the Christian rule... There is nothing Orthodox here! The usual way for Russia - using religion for political purposes! And if that is true, why do we play this political game?”
Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze responded to events regarding the Session of the IAO on the social network as well. He said that it is hard to see the occupant country's deputy at the main tribunal of Georgia's highest legislative body. “I fully share the fair protest of the Georgian society, and I appeal to the organizers to immediately inform the public about the causes of the incident and make a stern response to it,” wrote PM.
Bidzina Ivanishvili, Chairperson of the Georgian Dream coalition, commented that he shared the legitimate concern of citizens concerning the developments in the Parliament, which was caused by a protocol error.
Irakli Kobakhidze, Speaker of the Parliament, who issued a permit for holding Orthodox Assembly in the Parliament of Georgia said that seeing a representative of the occupant country in the chair of the chairman of the parliament was a hard-hitting picture and as soon as he was informed he requested the suspension of the session. Note, that on June 20 Kobakhidze was on an official visit to Azerbaijan.
Opposition parties “National Movement” and “European Georgia” are requesting the resignation of the chairman of the Parliament of Georgia. According to the members of the fraction “European Georgia”, they will start impeachment procedure. They assessed the events as an attack on Georgia’s sovereignty, an issue that is beyond the scope of party differences and according to them, such fact must necessarily lead to the highest level of responsibility.
Political Union Girchi held a protest rally outside the Georgia Orthodox Church’s Patriarchate. Leader of the political union, Zura Japaridze says that in the events of June 20, the culprits are not only politicians but also patriarchs. According to him, any union under Orthodoxy is so-called soft power in the hands of Russia: “The society should know that one of the main creators of the whole country’s is the institute, which is the main plaque of Russia, which is the main hindrance to the development of this country.”
Even though Gavrilov and the rest of the Russian MPs left Georgia at approximately 8PM on June 20, the protests in front of the Parliament continued. With Grigol Vashadze, Nika Melia and several other opposition leaders attempting to take charge of the protests, people gathered in front of the building tried to go inside the Parliament.
After the situation in front of the Parliament became hostile, with the protesters trying to take the building, a special unit force was deployed at the scene, who used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the protesters.
Giorgi Gakharia, the Minister of Interior and Mamuka Bakhtadze, the Prime Minister, as well as other members of the Government arrived in the Parliament. PM addressed the protesters in an official statement, saying "I want to address the society, yes, my friends, your protest is fair and I'm with you, but, at the same time, an irresponsible power is trying to use it for provocation. The Georgian state should not allow it and will not allow it", said the Prime Minister.
H.E. Hubert Knirsch, German Ambassador to Georgia also arrived at the protests in the early morning of today, asking all sides to keep calm, not to use violence and discuss the issues in the light of day.
During the protests, after the special forces used rubber bullets against the demonstrators, several people were left severely injured, as of now, the exact number of casualties is unknown.
