Interior Minister: ‘I was watching the storm on Parliament with foreign ambassadors’
By Gvantsa Gabekhadze
Monday, July 15
Georgian Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia, whose resignation people have been demanding for more than 20 days, says that police acted lawfully when they dispersed anti-occupation rally on Rustaveli Avenue on June 20 and that he was watching the storm on parliament with “several foreign ambassadors.”
Gakharia stated in his interview with TV1 on July 11 that the rally on Rustaveli, which was sparked by an address of a Russian MP from the seat of the Georgian parliamentary speaker, was peaceful only until 10 p.m., and then “aggressive groups, run by the opposition” have been trying to storm the parliament building “for seven hours.”
“We were forced to use force and to stay on Rustaveli Avenue till the morning as the aggressive groups were trying to cause unrest even after the rally dispersal. I was watching how the demonstrators were trying to storm the parliament building, and I was not alone, several ambassadors were with me,” Gakharia said.
The statements have caused controversies as only the German ambassador was spotted at the site that night.
The United National Movement opposition said that Gakharia tried to get the ambassadors involved in the row and share the responsibility of dispersal with the diplomats.
“The statement might have worsened the relations with the countries the ambassadors represent.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani and the ministry Spokesperson Vladimir Konstantinidi said that “ambassadors arrived in parliament on their own accord.” However, none of them managed to name the ambassadors, except the German ambassador Hubert Knirsch.
Following the controversies Knirsch reconfirmed his presence in Parliament, stating that he was observing the situation, as making decisions in such cases is the responsibility of the authorities and not any foreign ambassador.
The ambassadors of the EU, US, France, Netherlands, Ukraine, UK, Sweden, and Switzerland have refused their presence in the parliament building that night.
The Interior Ministry had explained that the minister meant a telephone contact with ambassadors when the situation got worse on June 20, adding that only German ambassador was in Parliament on his own accord.
In the interview, Gakharia confirmed for the first time that “I gave the order for the rally dispersal,” adding that quitting the post now would be the “escape from responsibilities.”
About ordering the dispersal he also said that the demonstrators “were warned several times, including at the scene”.
“I issued the order, especially after the protest got violent. I acted within the constitution and the law of Georgia. The main responsibility of the police and the Ministry of Internal Affairs is to protect the state institutions and public order in the country,” Gakharia said.
As for the orange rubber bullets used during the dispersal, Gakharia said that the police have the right to use such bullets.
”This orange bullet is not lethal, and it can be legally used all over the world, including in Georgia,” said Gakharia.
Gakharia stated that the opposition plotted the unrest, using the presence of Russian MPs in Georgia.
He said that he had no right not to allow Russian MPs who were coming to the country to attend an international forum with the delegations of many other states.
The opposition said that 98 percent of Gakharia’s words were a lie and that “he, as the minister, is dead.”
Member of the European Georgia opposition Sergi Kapanadze said that the police made “no warnings” at the scene to allow the people to leave.
He said that the opposition had urged the government several times not to allow Russian MPs into Georgia.
“It is also a lie that the ministry had no right to prevent the MPs from entering Georgia. The ministry has the return any individual back,” Kapanadze said.
Georgian people took to the streets on June 20, as they were irritated by seeing Russian MP Sergey Gavrilov, from the occupant country, in the seat of the Georgian parliamentary seat during a religious forum.
Group of demonstrators tried to storm the parliament building that night when police used rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannons, leaving 240 injured, with two of them losing eyes.
Demonstrators are still demanding Gakharia to resign, saying that the use of force at the anti-occupation rally was unjustified and disproportionate.
