Conflict between ruling team and president continues

Another wave of conflict is mounting between the ruling team and President of Georgia. Chairman of Parliament Irakli Kobakhidze accuses President Giorgi Margvelashvili of having influenced the European Court of Human Rights over the judgment into Rustavi 2 TV Company case based on which enforcement of ruling made by Supreme Court of Georgia has been temporarily suspended without terms. Chairman of Parliament also accused political parties and non-governmental organizations about the same issue without going into details and giving any names.

“There had been certain signs that some persons, including the President, political parties and other entities, were trying to make political influence on the European Court's decision. They sent letters to the Court, and naturally, the decision was made under the influence. This does not mean that the decision was political, but the goal was to make political influence," Kobakhidze said.

Vice-Premier and Minister of Energy Kakha Kaladze agreed with Parliament Speaker’s position that indirect pressure was exerted on Strasbourg Court with regard to the Rustavi 2 case. "Everything that was done with regard to this case can be considered as pressure. If you look at the chronology of these cases, we will see facts of verbal abuse, swearing and so on, while non-governmental organizations sent letters to the court. All this can be termed as indirect pressure. As far as I know, President has also sent a letter,” Kaladze claimed. 

To a question of whether the visit of the Foreign Minister might also be regarded as an attempt to make political influence, Kobakhidze said that "Foreign Minister had not sent any letter and that he arrived in Strasbourg and not in the Strasbourg Court." Statements made by addressees of accusations were harsh today.