Mikhail Saakashvili: "This is not a commission, but a counter-revolution"

The outgoing third president of Georgia, Mikhail Saakashvili, commented on the work of the parliamentary commission created by the ruling party to investigate alleged crimes committed by the authorities during the period of "National Movement" rule.

"This is not a commission, but a counter-revolution of criminals, pro-Russian fraudsters and pro-Russian corruptors," he wrote on his Facebook page.

According to Saakashvili, the task of the investigative commission is "extensive and consists in changing the genetic code of the Georgian people." However, the ex-president is convinced that "history will justify him" and "the counter-revolution will be suppressed."

The temporary investigative commission was created by "Georgian Dream" in February of this year. Initially, it was supposed to focus only on the period of Mikheil Saakashvili's rule (2003–2012), but in March its powers were expanded: now the alleged violations of the opposition up to the present time are also subject to investigation. The investigative body is headed by Tei Tsulukyana, one of the veterans of the ruling party, in the past - the minister of justice, then - of culture and sports, and now - a member of parliament.

The investigative body must complete its work in six months. After that, the ruling party intends to send the financial report to the Constitutional Court in order to have the "United National Movement" declared unconstitutional.

We remind you that the maximum punishment for "failure to fulfill the legal requirements of the temporary investigative commission of the parliament" (Article 349 of the Criminal Code of Georgia) is imprisonment for up to a year. Among others, the leader of the Georgian opposition party "Akhaly" Nika Gvaramiya is accused in this article. In April, he appeared at a session of the Tbilisi City Court in his case with popcorn and, upon the judge's remark, replied that he had diabetes and needed to eat. Nika Gvaramiya held the post of Minister of Justice, as well as Minister of Science and Education of Georgia during the reign of Mikheil Saakashvili. The commission was going to ask him about the situation in the spheres of defense, security and protection of human rights in the country in 2004-2012.

Due to the non-appearance of the investigative commission, criminal cases were also opened against the founders of the opposition party "Lelo" Mamuka Khazaradze and Badra Japaridze, former Minister of Defense of Georgia Irakli Okruashvili, ex-deputy of parliament and in the past one of the leaders of "National Movement" Hyva Targamadze.

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