Parliament Vice Speaker accuses Giorgi Gakharia of contradictory statements over June 20, 2019 events

Thea Tsulukiani, the Vice Speaker of the Georgian Parliament and Chair of the Temporary Investigative Commission of the Parliament examining crimes committed by the former United National Movement Government between 2003 and 2012, on Monday confronted Giorgi Gakharia, the leader of the opposition Gakharia - for Georgia party, over his actions and decisions during his tenure as Minister of Internal Affairs and Prime Minister, including his involvement in the dispersal of the protest on June 20, 2019, when the riot police used tear gas, water cannon and rubber bullets.

Tsulukiani noted that in relation to the events of June 20, Gakharia had said that he gave the order and was personally responsible for everything, but now he is blaming specific police officers for using rubber bullets without authorisation.

“You’ve said in your interviews that you gave the orders and took responsibility for everything. Now you’re saying that you didn’t give this particular order, and I apologize for saying this, but nothing has changed at this moment except that you’ve blamed certain police officers for acting recklessly and injuring people. Either it was like that, or it wasn’t – you should clarify. But you blamed the officers, even though in your interviews you repeatedly said, 'I gave the orders, and I am responsible for everything.' Personally, I cannot understand it”, Tsulukiani said.