The FINANCIAL — According to Civil Georgia, Alexandre Lomaia, the secretary of the National Security Council (NSC), has warned the state would not allow anyone to block the activities of the newly elected parliament.
In an interview with the Georgian weekly newspaper Kviris Palitra, published on June 2, Lomaia said that those who will try to hinder the parliament’s activities will be arrested and punished in accordance to the criminal code.
“The measures envisaged by the law will be implemented against those persons, who try to block the parliament,” he said. “If they commit a crime requiring a punishment, they will be detained. Will it be necessary to use force? – The state will use force and such people will be arrested. I will use this opportunity to inform your [newspaper’s] numerous readers about it, as well as those persons, who may have such ideas.”
The eight-party opposition bloc and the Labor Party have called for a large-scale protest rally on the day when the newly elected parliament convenes its first session. The opposition said that it aimed at blocking the parliament building not to let newly elected ruling party MPs inside the chamber.
“I want to say it clearly – any such attempts will be prevented,” Lomaia has warned. “The Criminal Code of Georgia envisages the relevant actions, including imprisonment for a term of about 2 years. Nobody should have an illusion that the activity of legally, democratically elected Georgian parliament will be hindered.”
“Blocking of the parliament’s activities by the opposition will trigger a scuffle… Not a single state is glad to use force against those, who are violating public order. But there is a moment, when use of force is necessary and the only subject, which has a legal right to do it, is the government. If a criminal offence is committed, the offenders will be punished.”
In the newspaper interview Lomaia also suggested that despite the opposition had announced boycott to the parliament, eventually many newly elected opposition lawmakers would join the legislative body.
“Reality is that opposition says they will not enter into the parliament, but they also say they will undergo all the necessary procedures and take their [MP] mandates,” Lomaia said. “It means that it will be formalized what has been decided by voters [in the May 21 parliamentary elections] – Mikheil Saakashvili’s National Movement will be in majority and there will be three other opposition parties.”
“One part of those [opposition politicians] who now declares that they would boycott the new parliament is just trying to save the face.”
Meanwhile, Konstantine Gamsakhurdia, leader of the Freedom Party – part of the eight-party opposition bloc – said in an interview with the Georgian newspaper Versia (Version) published on June 2, that he thought “united opposition project – to run in the election on the joint ticket is already over.”
“Now each member of the bloc will probably decide whether to remain [in the bloc] or not,” Gamsakhurdia said. When asked whether he planned to quit the opposition coalition, Gamsakhurdia responded: “I will refrain from making statement on that matter.”
He also said: “I have decided not to enter the new parliament, but my way is individual and I will myself decide when to annul my MP mandate.
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