UNM to sign the agreement only after Melia is free
By Nika Gamtsemlidze
Friday, April 23
As part of Georgian opposition and the ruling party signed the agreement proposed by European Council President Charles Michel, “A way ahead for Georgia”, the United Georgian Movement representatives say that they will sign the agreement only after Melia is released from prison.
The agreement was already signed by Giorgi Vashadze, Chairman of the Strategy Builder, Badri Japaridze and Mamuka Khazaradze, leaders of Lelo, Khatuna Samnidze, Chairperson of the Republican Party, Vakhtang Megrelishvili, one of the leaders of Girchi, and Aleko Elisashvili, leader of Citizens.
The document was also individually signed by Salome Samadashvili, one of the leaders of the UNM, who then left the party, Davit Bakradze, independent MP, and Zurab Japaridze, Chairman of Girchi - More Freedom.
The document of Charles Michel is also supported by the ruling party, Georgian Dream. The text was signed by Parliament Speaker Archil Talakvadze.
However, the part of the document that focuses on the release of prisoners detained in connection with the June 20 case.
Giorgi Vashadze, the leader of the Strategy Builder, said that the amnesty will not apply to those who have not been prosecuted yet. As for the amnesty for the law enforcers, the leaders of the Georgian Dream say that it should affect the law enforcers as well.
On the other hand, the opposition opposes it. The victims of June 20 responded to the ongoing events and said that the parties do not have the right to decide whether to stop hearings of the ongoing cases.
The Georgian Young Lawyers' Association and the Human Rights Center, organizations that protect the interests of citizens and journalists affected by the June 20, both in Georgia and at the European Court of Human Rights, consider the amnesty of law enforcers unacceptable.
The United National Movement of Georgia plans to only sign the document after Melia leaves prison. Former president of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili posted a video on his Facebook and said that the document contains many shortcomings and is very far from something that could 'solve the crisis'. He called Melia 'the hero of UNM' and said he and Rurua should be released from prison unconditionally.
