Georgian Dream releases additional information regarding the telephone conversation between the Honorary Chairman of the party Bidzina Ivanishvili and French President Emmanuel Macron.
The party says during the conversation, the French President did indeed raise the issue of releasing the detainees, however, the Honorary Chairman of the party explained that “Georgia is a legal state and all criminals are held accountable for the crimes they commit in accordance with the requirements of the law and a high standard of evidence.”
In addition, according to the Georgian Dream, Ivanishvili also noted that the police acted with a higher standard than European standards against the large-scale violence of the protesters.
“The French President, during the conversation, did raise the issue of releasing the detainees. The Honorary Chairman of the party explained to the President on this issue that the majority of the detainees are being held under administrative detention and all of them will be released in the near future. As for those detained on criminal charges, Macron was explained that Georgia is a legal state and all criminals are held accountable for the crimes they commit in accordance with the requirements of the law and a high standard of evidence. Bidzina Ivanishvili also explained to the French President that the police acted against the large-scale violence of the protesters with a higher standard than European standards. In addition, the Honorary Chairman of the party noted during his speech that an investigation into individual misconduct has been initiated and is ongoing,” the Georgian Dream said in additional information.
For the record, the Georgian Dream released its first statement regarding the telephone conversation between Bidzina Ivanishvili and Emmanuel Macron, which noted that the conversation was held at the initiative of the French President and lasted for an hour. The statement also stated that the conversation touched upon the situation in Georgia and the parties agreed to continue contact in the coming days.
“At the initiative of the French President, a telephone conversation took place between the Honorary Chairman of the Georgian Dream, Bidzina Ivanishvili, and Emmanuel Macron. Macron noted that he was concerned about the situation in Georgia and expressed his desire to contribute to its complete de-escalation. In turn, Bidzina Ivanishvili thanked the French President for the initiative and welcomed the idea of joint efforts.
Ivanishvili and Macron agreed to continue contact in the coming days and assess the progress achieved. The conversation lasted for an hour,” the Georgian Dream said in a statement released earlier. However, the Dream hasn’t distributed the entire conversation context, where Macron condemned police violence in Georgia against peaceful demonstrators and journalists and demanded release of detainees.
By Ana Dumbadze
Related story: French President condemns police violence in Georgia against peaceful demonstrators and journalists, demands release of detainees
