UN Secretary-General calls for restraint amid tensions in Georgia

Zurab Japaridze, one of the leaders of the Coalition for Change, regards the proposed amendments to the Law on Police and the Law on Public Service as indicative of an autocratic and dictatorial regime. According to Japaridze, these proposed amendments are not new and serve a specific agenda. “The objective is clear, isn’t it? On one hand, the goal is to employ individuals who have been brainwashed into joining the police force, allowing them to wear the uniform and to beat and torture people. On the other hand, it enables the dismissal of those with critical thinking skills, should any remain in public service,” he stated. The draft legislation would empower the Minister of Internal Affairs to hire individuals without a competitive selection process. Additionally, GD Executive Secretary Mamuka Mdinaradze announced that the amendments aim to facilitate the reorganization of public services to create a “healthier” public sector.

“We are continuously hearing alarming discussions regarding possible sanctions. Any decision that is made would be unjust,” stated Giorgi Kakhiani, the Parliamentary Legal Affairs Committee Chair. Kakhiani’s remarks followed a statement by EU Ambassador to Georgia Pawel Herczynski, who noted, “In response to the events of the last 12 days all the options are on the table. This also includes suspension of visa-free travel.” Kakhiani expressed that while he does not anticipate sanctions, he believes that any decision made should not pose an issue. “There is no problem if anyone believes individual sanctions should be imposed. If any representative of the Georgian Dream is sanctioned solely for serving the interests of the country, I have no issue with that. However, this decision should not adversely affect the population. To be honest, I have no expectation of sanctions, but we should wait for their decision; nonetheless, any decision would be unjust,” he said. “We have always said that we do not want to harm the population. We don’t want to punish the people who are manifesting their dedication to EU values, who are on the streets of Tbilisi and many other cities, waving Georgian flags and European Union flags. But the authorities who are responsible for the violence and brutality – we cannot keep silent. Member states will discuss it on Monday and hopefully already on Monday, there will be decisions taken,” said EU Ambassador on December 9.

Peter Fischer, German ambassador to Georgia, said it is “unacceptable for gangs of thugs to attack and injure press and others. They told us police was only few meters away and did not intervene. Quo vadis, Georgia?” Fischer noted that today eight ambassadors visited TV Pirveli journalist Maka Chikhladze and cameraman Giorgi Shetsiruli in hospital to wish well and show solidarity.  

Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili met her Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Paris. According to the Georgian Presidential Administration, the Ukrainian President expressed full solidarity with the Georgian People. Salome Zourabichvili echoed the meeting on the social network. “Thank you, President Zelenskyy, for your steadfast and unwavering support for the Georgian people Our nations’ fight for independence, freedom, and a European future will prevail – there is no alternative,” she wrote on the X Platform. Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili departed for France for a visit on Saturday.

Georgian Public Defender Levan Ioseliani visited 34 detainees of the December 7 Rustaveli Avenue protest in Tbilisi and Sagarejo. According to the Public Defender’s Office, the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) should take notice of lost items belonging to the detained protesters. Levan Ioseliani remarked that the detainees were observed with various injuries received during detention and transportation. The Public Defender provided the information on each fact to the Special Investigation Service.