Free Democrats leader requests for anti-terrorism centre funding
By Tea Mariamidze
Tuesday, July 5
“Funding of the anti-terrorism centre and border protection should be tripled, because Georgia could well be in danger soon,” Irakli Alasania, the leader of the Free Democrats opposition party, stated at a press-conference held on July 4.
Alasania believes that after the June 28 terrorist attack at Istanbul Ataturk International Airport, security measures in Georgia should be tightened.
“Our borders should be protected so that people suspected of membership in radical groups cannot cross the border of Georgia,” he said.
The leader of the Free Democrats also commented on the information that ethnic Chechen Akhmed Chatayev, who was released from a Georgian prison last year, is the mastermind of the Istanbul Airport attack.
“Those who want to somehow link this with Georgia are doing our country a disservice,” he said.
The relevant Turkish bodies have not confirmed Chatayev’s participation in the blast in Turkey.
Alasania also commented on the scheduled visit of the United States Secretary of the State, John Kerry, in Georgia on July 6.
According to him, such an important visit has not taken place in Georgia for years and it is very important before the October parliamentary elections.
“Our partners always emphasize that if Georgia wants to become a productive member of the international community, it should show that we can change the government in a democratic way. We are being given a chance with the 2016 elections," noted Alasania.
