Georgia: third political prisoner gave associates freedom of action

The third so-called political prisoner, whose release demands from the Georgian government, but the opposition cannot yet achieve, Georgy Rurua turned to his associates from prison and gave them freedom of action. He published his short appeal (from prison) on his page on the social network Facebook. Rurua called on the opposition leaders defending him to return to parliament and take part in the vote on the draft amendments to the Constitution in the third reading. My position is this: participation in the vote in the third reading is mandatory, I will not emphasize the importance. I understand the position of my friends, and I would do the same in their place. Leaving me hostage is secondary. Nobody can blame us for unprincipled. The adoption of a proportional electoral system was and remains the main demand of society, as well as the request of our international friends, writes Rurua and calls on associates to complete this matter. In European Georgia and the National Movement, which all this time urged the release of Rurua, they have already stated that they will not leave their friend in prison, and, judging by their mood, they do not intend to vote for amendments to the Constitution while Rurua is in prison. Recall that George Rurua was detained in November last year on charges of illegally acquiring, storing and carrying firearms. The trial of his case has not yet been completed, and the verdict has not yet been passed. After an agreement was concluded between the ruling Georgian Dream party and the opposition at the US ambassador's residence on March 8, European Georgia and the National Movement interpreted the provision of this agreement to prevent the politicization of justice as a demand for the release of political prisoners and presented the authorities with a list of 3 such political prisoners. In addition to Rurua, the former mayor of Tbilisi Gigi Ugulava and former Minister of Defense Irakli Okruashvili were also included there. The first was convicted of embezzlement of 50 million lari of budget funds, and the second for calling for violence and participating in violent actions during the events of June 20 last year in Tbilisi. Against the background of sharp criticism of the Georgian government by a number of US congressmen and members of the European Parliament and unequivocal instructions from Western politicians and diplomats, Ugulav and Okruashvili were released by a presidential pardon act. Despite the presence of Rurua in prison, European Georgia nevertheless took part in the vote on amendments to the Constitution in the first reading, in order, as the party leaders said, to prevent the Georgian dream from immediately failing the bill. But they refused to participate in the next discussions. Despite the boycott of two opposition forces, parliament managed to approve the amendments in the second reading. Voting in the third reading should take place on June 29. These amendments are part of the March 8 agreement and provide for the holding of parliamentary elections in 2020 under the new electoral system.