Opposition Calls on Diplomats to Monitor Situation in Army
Civil Georgia, Tbilisi / 2 Jun.'09 / 21:07

A group of opposition parties, which are behind the protest rallies ongoing since April 9, called on the Georgian partner states to keep a close eye on developments in the Georgian army and criminal proceedings against those held over the reported Mukhrovani mutiny.

In a joint statement opposition has claimed that “a purposeful destruction” of the Georgian armed forces, accompanied by “purposeful punitive measures in the army” was underway by the Georgian authorities.

The statement was read out Irakli Batiashvili of the opposition Republican Party outside the Defense Ministry on June 2, in presence of Salome Zourabichvili, leader of Georgia’s Way party; Nino Burjanadze, leader of Democratic Movement-United Georgia; Eka Beselia of Movement for United Georgia; Zurab Abashidze, a close ally of Irakli Alasania; Davit Gamkrelidze, leader of New Rights Party; Tina Khidasheli of the Republican Party; Zviad Dzidziguri, leader of Conservative Party; Koka Guntsadze and Levan Gachechiladze, two individual opposition politicians.

“After the August, 2008 events the Georgian authorities have started carrying out purposeful punitive measures. This trend has become especially obvious after one of the most discredited representative of the authorities a former head of the penitentiary system, Bacho Akhalaia was appointed as deputy defense minister [in late 2008],” the statement reads.

“There is a reasonable doubt that the authorities have staged the so called Mukhrovani mutiny after it decided to involve military units in political confrontation and use the army against protesters,” the statement reads and then raises the issue of those 33 persons, both civilians and militaries who were arrested in connection with the Mukhrovani incident. One was released on bail and other 32 remain in the police custody.

“Since the public confidence towards law enforcement agencies and judiciary is extremely low and since there is no parliamentary and civil control over armed forces, we request you, to use all means at your disposal and establish monitoring over the investigation process [into the Mukhrovani incident] as well as over alarming processes ongoing in the Georgian armed forces,” the opposition’s appeal to the foreign diplomatic missions reads.

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