Crisis goes on while Europe tries to mediate
By Malkhaz Matsaberidze
Wednesday, March 24
In the last week, the Council of Europe and the European Union tried to solve the delayed political crisis in Georgia. Negotiations were conducted in Georgia, trying to conduct a special representative of the Council of Europe and Brussels, where Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Gharibashvili was present. But despite the great effort and commitment of European friends, the agreement between the Georgian authorities and the opposition was quite difficult.
European friends' efforts are highly appreciated and important for several reasons. First of all, it was made clear what a significant partner Georgia is considered and how they are trying to overcome the crisis in the country. If the tenth of such attention and support Georgia could enjoy years ago, the Democratic Republic of Georgia, perhaps the Soviet Russia would fail to conquer it. Secondly, if not for the West's attention to Georgia, such negotiations between the government and the opposition, would not take place. Negotiations have played a certain massive role in the political situation in Georgia. Third, European politicians had to familiarize themselves with the difficult situation in Georgia..
Negotiations are underway in a private mode. Negotiations are discussing around five paragraphs, agreement with the statements of opposition representatives should be in connection with all these points and can not move forward with any other paragraphs.
The main requirements of the opposition in the boycot mode - release of political prisoners and appointment of extraordinary parliamentary elections is categorically unacceptable for Georgian Dream. They exclude the existence of political prisoners, and deny the opposition's allegations of falsification of the 2020 parliamentary election. The opposing bloc demands early elections or even a plebiscite to decide whether people want early elections or not. Prime Minister Garibashvili said that until 2024, before the parliamentary elections, parliamentary elections would not be held in Georgia. In this regard, "Georgian Dream" was very pleasant to the statements made by European politicians that the 2020 parliamentary elections were free and competitive. The opposition in this boycott mode and European friends were criticized for such statements. Georgian Dream excludes snap elections but the opposition does not explain this request from the agenda. The 2020 parliamentary elections are not simply fraudulent, but this fraud has changed the winner of the elections. Georgian Dream continued to rule for the third term, while the opposition in the boycott mode lost the elections.
The leader of the opposition party Nika Melia, the leader of the opposition party deserved negative assessment from our european friends. According to the leaders of Georgian Dream's Prime Minister Gharibashvili, the release of Melia is for the Court to decide, which sounds charming to the westernf friends.
European friends consider the way out of the crisis is for the opposition to enter parliament. In their opinion, it will be important for stability, democracy, pluralism and dialogue on electoral reform or judicial reform. All this is true in the European democratic parliaments, but it is doubtful that the entry of the opposition in Georgia's parliament leads to democracy in Georgia. it will be important for stability, democracy, pluralism and dialogue on electoral reform or judicial reform. All this is true in the European democratic parliaments, but it is doubtful that the entry of the opposition in Georgia's parliament leads to democracy in Georgia.
Leaders of the Georgian Dream party divide the opposing bloc into "destructive" and "constructive" parts. They usually refer as "destructive" to those related to UNM in one way or another.
The opposition's entering parliament would be perceived as their defeat, and the government's reaction would also probably be mocking and insulting. Without deciding on the issue of early elections, the opposition is not going to enter the Parliament. The opposition also expects the US to involve the Georgian political crisis and hopes that it will make it possible to find a way out.
(Translated from Georgian by Mariam Mchedlidze)