Incarceration of another Georgian opposition figure, former parliamentarian Givi Targamadze was sentenced to seven months in prison for refusing to recognize the legitimacy of the parliament and appeared on the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry, Denis Krivosheev, Deputy Director of Emperor International, Deputy Director of International Anne International, Eastern Europe and Central Aseas Asia said:
“Call the opposition before the parliamentary committee and arrest and imprison them for their refusal to acknowledge their legitimacy has attracted serious concerns about the abuse of legislation, policing and other powers to silence Georgia’s government critics.”
“Because of its controversial identity, the committee has been played to target the principled opposition of former public officials. It has become a tool of political repression, rather than a tool of parliamentary scrutiny, used to lock in political opponents before local elections. The abuse of ruling party in terms of rule and peaceful society is part of the wider protests against judicial protesters and includes criticism of the society, which is part of the crisis of the society, which is part of the crisis of the society, which is part of the critical protests, which is part of the crisis of the society, which is part of the critical protests, which is part of the society, which is part of the crisis of the society, which is part of the critical protests, which is part of the society, which is part of the crisis of the society, which is part of the society, which is part of the crisis of the society, which is part of the society, which is part of the society, which is part of the society, which is part of the society, which is part of the society, which is part of the society, which is part of the society, which is part of the society, which is part of the society, which is part of the society, which is part of the society, which is part of the society, which is part of the society, which is part of the society, which is part of the society, which is part of the society, which is part of the society, which is part of the society, which is part of the society, which is part of the society, which is part of the society, which is part of the society, which is part of the society, which is part of the society, which is part of the society, which is part of the society, which is part of the society, which is part of the society, which is part of the society, which is part of the society, which is part of the society, which is part of the society, which is part of the society, which is part of the society, which is part of the society, which is part of the society, which is part of the society, which is part of the society, which is part of the society, which is part of the society. The crisis of the society, which is part of the society, is part of the society, which is part
The ruling party abuses the parliamentary structure as part of a broader crackdown on critics
Denis Krivosheev, Deputy Director of Amnesty International Eastern Europe and Central Asia
Georgia authorities must stop their ruthless attacks on protesters and political activists to exercise their human rights peacefully and release Givi Targamadze and six other opposition members who have abandoned the bar in recent weeks. Authorities must cease practice and make Georgia’s international human rights obligations violate the rights of all.
background
On June 27, the Tbilisi City Court sentenced Givi Targamadze to seven months in prison for “violating the rules” of the council committee led by the ruling Georgian Dream Party. The committee claimed to be established to investigate the alleged abuse of former government officials from the United Nations National Movement (UNM) parties held from 2003 to 2012.
Giorgi Targamadze is the seventh opposition figure to be arrested, and in these lawsuits in recent weeks, Giorgi Vashadze was sentenced to seven months in prison, Mamuka Khazaradze, Mamuka Khazaradze, Badri Japaradze and Zurab Japaridze, each of whom was sentenced to six months in prison. All of them were also banned from serving for two years. The other three opposition figures – former UNM chairman Nika Melia, former Justice and Defense Minister Nika Gvaramia and Irakli Okruashvili – are currently in detention and routine trials on the same charges.
Refusal to comply with the Parliamentary Committee may pass up to one year in prison or fines under Georgian law. But so far, the court has sentenced prison sentences in only a series of cases targeting politicians who have challenged the legitimacy of the incumbent parliament after a controversial election.
