Georgian Parliament official: McCain Institute’s actions fit into broader agenda of external pressure on Georgia’s judiciary

Archil Gorduladze, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee, on Thursday said the statement from the McCain Institute was an attempt to influence the domestic judiciary.

Gorduladze’s comment followed the statement of the McCain Institute that it had played a pivotal role in the release of Nika Gvaramia, the leader of the opposition Coalition for Change, adding $500,000 grant from Carnegie Corporation of New York would be used to fight for the interests of individuals imprisoned in several countries, including Mzia Amaghlobeli, a journalist who attacked a police officer.

In his remarks, Gorduladze noted that it was nothing but pure and simple disinformation, when the McCain Institute made a statement regarding Mzia Amaghlobeli and placed her alongside other individuals.

“If the McCain Institute were acting in good faith, it would have also included the name of the man who slapped President Macron and was sentenced to 14 months. But they did not, because that man is not carrying out tasks ordered from abroad. Unfortunately, Ms. Amaghlobeli has been used by agents and foreign organizations to import protest sentiments into our country”, the Parliament official said.

He stressed that the court’s decision against Amaghlobeli was based on evidence, noting that she has the right to appeal domestically and ultimately to the European Court of Human Rights. He expressed confidence that Strasbourg would uphold the rulings of Georgian courts, as it had in past cases involving Nika Gvaramia and Nika Melia.

According to Gorduladze, the McCain Institute’s actions fit into a broader agenda of external pressure on Georgia’s judiciary.

“This statement is yet another attempt to exert political influence on justice. Their funding sources are aimed at bringing agents to power through disorder and unrest”, he claimed.

Gorduladze also accused the McCain Institute and its funding sources of seeking to cause unrest and bring “agents” to power.

He recalled an interview where the Institute’s executive director “spoke with laughter and mockery” about the possibility of a second front opening in Georgia and people dying.