Opposition Leaders Call Authorities to Curb Violence

(Tbilisi February 3, 2003. Civil Georgia) – Leading opposition leaders condemned today violent attack against the opposition New Rights party.

The party’s leadership said that up to twenty armed men raided the New Rights’ office in Tbilisi today, destroying equipment and abusing the party members.

“It is the attempt to terrorize the New Rights and the entire opposition,” Zurab Zhvania, former Parliamentary Chairman, leader of the United Democrats party said.

“When dozens of armed men attack one of the leading opposition parties’ office, it means that the situation in the country is out of control,” Vazha Lortkipanidze, former State Minister and the leader of the Christian-Democratic Party told the reporters today.

Leader of the New Rights Davit Gamkrelidze called the authorities to curb the violence in the country and to investigate the incident as soon as possible.

The members of the party and the witnesses claim the attackers said that they were supporters of MP Irakli Batiashvili, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for Defense and Security, which was excluded from the New Rights party recently for supporting the 2003 budget.

Batiashvili condemned today violent attack saying that he has nothing common with the raid of the New Rights’ office.

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