MIA will look into Saakashvili's statements on June 20 events
By Nika Gamtsemlidze
Wednesday, January 15
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia will study the statement made by the former President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili during his interview with the Main Channel about the June 20-21 events.
The statement, according to the Interior Ministry, suggests that the attempt to overthrow the state government was led by Mikheil Saakashvili.
“Yesterday, the former President Mikheil Saakashvili made a statement saying, ‘on June 20, 2019, Bidzina Ivanishvili was on the brink. A little bit and this regime would fall. Then, in my opinion, the moment was missed,’ – this statement is enough to suggest that on June 20, 2019, with the direct participation and leadership of Mikheil Saakashvili, there was an apparent attempt to overthrow the state government,” the MIA explained.
According to the agency, relevant investigative actions will be conducted in connection with the statement, after which it will be reconciled with other evidence and appropriate legal assessments will be given.
According to Irakli Kobakhidze, a former parliament speaker and majority member, “we must thank Mikheil Saakashvili for confessing to overthrowing the government.”
“It was found out that when Nikanor Melia was leading his activists to the parliament, he was given the task by Saakashvili,” said Kobakhidze.
According to the member of the Georgian Dream, Gia Volski, Mikheil Saakashvili practically confessed, while also confirming the legitimacy of the investigation of the June 20 events.
As Volski noted, Mikheil Saakashvili has directly indicated that they were close to the goal of overthrowing the government and will continue to do so in the future.
According to him, Georgian society has repeatedly heard the statements of the former president about the escalation of the situation in Georgia and the development of a revolutionary scenario.
“His statement yesterday is directly related to specific events and makes clear the reason why the investigation into the June 20 events has raised questions about his direct, immediate connection," said Volski said.
The Speaker of the Parliament, Archil Talakvadze noted that for months, part of the opposition has argued that June 20 events were not a violent attack and that it had no purpose of destabilization, “but their leader yesterday confirmed in a live broadcast that the events of the evening of June 20 were really destabilizing.”
According to Archil Talakvadze, this is one of the additional arguments in the ongoing investigation into the case of a violent attack.
An investigation into the case of June 20-21 in ongoing under part 3 of Article 315 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which involves a revolt to overthrow and seize state power, which has led to grave consequences. The investigation is also continuing under Article 225, which deals with the organization, management, and participation of group violence.
Opposition leaders Nika Melia and Irakli Okruashvili have also been charged with these allegations.
