The News in Brief
Tuesday, December 24
By Liza Mchedlidze
United National Movement appeals to the constitutional court regarding Nika Melia’s MP mandate suspense
United National Movement has appealed to the constitutional court regarding Nika Melia’s MP mandate suspense from the parliament, said UNM chair Roman Gotsiridze..
According to Gotsiridze, United National Movement appealed to the Constitutional Court on December 23 and he once again assessed the decision to suspend Melia from the Parliament as political prosecution and announced that they will appeal to Tbilisi Court Appeal as well.
“We appealed Parliament’s decision to Constitutional Court, Tbilisi Court Appeal still has deadlines and we will appeal to them too. Nika Melia was suspended from the parliament illegally because there was a chance for a different decision from other instances. Other than this, It is an obvious political prosecution to neutralize political leaders before the elections. Every MP who voted for Nika Melia’s suspension will be noted as shameful deputies of the history Parliament.”
TI Georgia demands action from prosecution regarding Troll Factory scandal
Transparency International Georgia (TI) releases a statement regarding the Facebook deleting hundreds of fake media platforms and fake identity pro-government, pro-Russian, anti-western propaganda pages and accounts, allegedly funded and backed by Georgian Dream and put in motion by Panda Advertising Company and demands legal actions from prosecution. TI statement reads:
"The actions of the individuals behind these groups may be indicative of several offenses, so the investigation should begin immediately. The organization emphasizes that the process of investigation must strictly adhere to the freedom of expression and a specific crime. The prosecution should initiate criminal prosecution if it is clearly established that the act contains signs of crime and does not fall within the area of freedom of expression."
Transparency International identified and listed several offenses under the criminal code of the Georgian constitution violated by these government-backed Troll groups such as Criminal Code, Article 194 - Legalization of illicit income, Criminal Code, Article 182 - Embezzlement or embezzlement by means of official position, Criminal Code, Article 33 3 - Abuse of official rights, Criminal Code, Article 144 3 - Degrading or inhuman treatment, Criminal Code, Article 157 1 - Confidentiality, Criminal Code, Article 239 1 - Public call for violent action, Law on Political Unions of Citizens, Article 34 2 - unlawful donation.
“Under the influence of the investigations-free investigative authorities, the investigation was to be launched immediately, based on reports. In the case of an impartial investigation, some of the offenses under the Criminal Code may be identified.”
United National Movement appeals to the constitutional court regarding Nika Melia’s MP mandate suspense
United National Movement has appealed to the constitutional court regarding Nika Melia’s MP mandate suspense from the parliament, said UNM chair Roman Gotsiridze..
According to Gotsiridze, United National Movement appealed to the Constitutional Court on December 23 and he once again assessed the decision to suspend Melia from the Parliament as political prosecution and announced that they will appeal to Tbilisi Court Appeal as well.
“We appealed Parliament’s decision to Constitutional Court, Tbilisi Court Appeal still has deadlines and we will appeal to them too. Nika Melia was suspended from the parliament illegally because there was a chance for a different decision from other instances. Other than this, It is an obvious political prosecution to neutralize political leaders before the elections. Every MP who voted for Nika Melia’s suspension will be noted as shameful deputies of the history Parliament.”
TI Georgia demands action from prosecution regarding Troll Factory scandal
Transparency International Georgia (TI) releases a statement regarding the Facebook deleting hundreds of fake media platforms and fake identity pro-government, pro-Russian, anti-western propaganda pages and accounts, allegedly funded and backed by Georgian Dream and put in motion by Panda Advertising Company and demands legal actions from prosecution. TI statement reads:
"The actions of the individuals behind these groups may be indicative of several offenses, so the investigation should begin immediately. The organization emphasizes that the process of investigation must strictly adhere to the freedom of expression and a specific crime. The prosecution should initiate criminal prosecution if it is clearly established that the act contains signs of crime and does not fall within the area of freedom of expression."
Transparency International identified and listed several offenses under the criminal code of the Georgian constitution violated by these government-backed Troll groups such as Criminal Code, Article 194 - Legalization of illicit income, Criminal Code, Article 182 - Embezzlement or embezzlement by means of official position, Criminal Code, Article 33 3 - Abuse of official rights, Criminal Code, Article 144 3 - Degrading or inhuman treatment, Criminal Code, Article 157 1 - Confidentiality, Criminal Code, Article 239 1 - Public call for violent action, Law on Political Unions of Citizens, Article 34 2 - unlawful donation.
“Under the influence of the investigations-free investigative authorities, the investigation was to be launched immediately, based on reports. In the case of an impartial investigation, some of the offenses under the Criminal Code may be identified.”