Former PM Kvirikashvili Advises Government
Former Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili released a statement in relation with the June 20 incidents, namely, the holding of a session of the Inter-parliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy at the Parliament building which was followed by severe protests by the public and opposition MPs.
Kvirikashvili published the statement on his Facebook page, giving the Georgian government advice and calling their activities a "grave mistake".
According to the former PM, the government has made a grave mistake, which was recognized, but their political response was late.
"Hence, part of the opponents of the government transformed a fair and sincere protest into a destructive process," he said.
"After that, the government committed a more serious mistake and used rubber bullets against young people participating in the rally, who are the future generation of the country.
"Using rubber bullets against demonstrators was a grave mistake. I can’t start political polemics, but I don’t think it would be impossible to stop an unfair attack on the police cordon by bringing more policemen to the spot, or by using tear gas and water alone.
"Today, the government continues a series of mistakes and thinks that the protests will be stopped by the resignation of the Chairman of the Parliament. This may work in the short-term, but it may come back and hit them in a much broader and more dangerous manner", Kvirikashvili wriote.
In his statement, Kvirikashvili gave the Georgian Government advice on finding a solution to the above-mentioned situation:
"In this situation, I see only one solution: raising and strengthening the sense of legitimation in society, for which I advise Bidzina Ivanishvili:
Immediately announce a political reform which includes:
1) Constitutional change for holding the next elections in a proportional system;
2) Constitutional change which will make the participation of Georgian citizens in elections mandatory. This change will also make the political spectrum more diverse;
3) Announcing the date of extraordinary parliamentary elections considering new principles;
4) The Interior Minister should take responsibility for our youth injured yesterday and leave his post.
"As a result of the above-mentioned, Georgian Dream will keep the trust of the society and will give our country an opportunity to maintain the leading position on the western platform", reads the ex-PM's statement.
By Ana Dumbadze