The opposition party Gakharia For Georgia has formally requested that the Prosecutor’s Office launch an investigation into the physical altercation that broke out in the Georgian Parliament on June 26.
Speaking outside the Prosecutor’s Office, the party’s MP Tata Khvedelian claimed the attack on her faction had been “an organized crime” carried out because the Prime Minister and his government “had no answers” to the questions raised by the opposition.
“The organized crime committed against us happened only because the Prime Minister and his incompetent government team had no answers to any of the questions we asked,” Khvedelian said.
She claimed that despite video footage of the violence circulating widely on social media and the incident taking place in the presence of law enforcement officials, no investigation has yet been launched.
“We are at the General Prosecutor’s Office today to file a complaint regarding the systemic crime and violence that everyone witnessed on television on June 26, when force was used against our parliamentary faction in an organized and premeditated act. These images were seen not only across Georgia but internationally as well. The perpetrators, whose faces were clearly visible during the live broadcast, have still not been identified, and no legal response has followed,” she said.
Khvedelian criticized the Prosecutor’s Office for remaining silent for four days following the incident, arguing that the violence occurred in the presence of the Minister of Internal Affairs and other representatives of law enforcement agencies.
She also compared the authorities’ response to other recent criminal cases, referring to the imprisonment of journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli and the detention of a mother of four over allegations of coloring an election banner with a marker.
“The ruling party has begun to resemble a violent regime. We are demanding justice not only for ourselves but on behalf of all those who have been seeking accountability for years for acts of violence committed by the Georgian Dream government and its members,” Khvedelian stated.
The MP acknowledged that expectations for an investigation were low given recent developments in the country but said the party would use every available legal mechanism to seek accountability.
“Our questions concerned the ongoing annexation processes, the economic situation, poverty, and all the pressing issues troubling Georgian citizens today. The organized attack against us happened because the Prime Minister and his team had no answers to those questions. We have submitted our complaint and now await a response,” she said.
The confrontation took place during a parliamentary session on June 26 after a speech by Gakharia For Georgia MP Giorgi Sharashidze, who referred to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s visit to Georgia and criticized the Prime Minister, saying that “the whole of Georgia saw the footage” showing him “standing in the corner,” which, Sharashidze claimed, reflected his “real role and place in government.”
The verbal exchange quickly escalated into a physical confrontation between opposition and ruling party lawmakers. The first clash involved Gakharia For Georgia MP Giga Parulava and Georgian Dream MP Irakli Kheladze. Georgian Dream MP Lasha Talakhadze subsequently joined the altercation and struck Parulava in the head.
As parliamentary security staff attempted to escort opposition MPs out of the chamber, another confrontation broke out between Parulava and Georgian Dream MP Archil Gorduladze, with Geno Petriashvili also taking part. After the initial participants were removed, opposition MP Giorgi Sharashidze was confronted by Georgian Dream MPs Irakli Kirtskhalia and Levan Machavariani.
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