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Parliament Weekly: February 25 – March 3

Photo: Eana Korbezashvili/Civil.ge

The Day of Soviet Occupation Marked

Flags were flying half-mast on Government buildings in Georgia on February 25, as the country observed the day when the Bolshevik’s Red Army entered Tbilisi on this day 98 years ago. President Salome Zurabishvili, Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze, and members of the parliamentary majority laid wreath at the memorial of Georgian cadets killed during the defense of Tbilisi in February, 1921.

Committee hearings

On February 25, the European Integration Committee discussed a legislative proposal initiated by seven Georgian Dream lawmakers, among them Tamar Chugoshvili, Tamar Khulordava and Dimitri Tskitishvili, regulating the issue of sexual harassment in labor relations.

According to the proposal, sexual harassment of an individual in public places is punishable by fine in amount of GEL 300; committing such action against a minor, pregnant woman, helpless person or a person with disabilities, or in the presence of a minor – will result in fine in amount of GEL 500 to 800. GEL 800-1000 fine will be imposed for repeat offense in aggravating circumstances. The committee endorsed the initiative.

On February 26, the Committees for Diaspora and Caucasus Issues, and for Education, Science and Culture held a joint session to discuss the problems of ethnic Georgians living in Azerbaijan and the ways of addressing them.

According to the Georgian Parliament’s press office, MPs discussed the ways for allowing ethnic Georgian population of Azerbaijan to maintenance their cultural identity, and specifically addressed the restoration of Georgian Culture Center in Kakhi region, as well as establishment of Georgian schools and inclusion of Georgian language in the syllabuses in Azerbaijan.

MP Mariam Jashi, chairperson of the Education, Science and Culture Committee, said at the session that “we are offering more substantial benefits to Azerbaijani citizens of Georgia [than Azerbaijan does to its ethnic Georgian citizens],” and “the rights of the [ethnic] Georgians living in Azerbaijan in education, as well as social services should be brought to the same level [as those of the Georgian citizens of Azerbaijani descent].”

These remarks were strongly criticized by Georgian civil society organizations.

On February 25, the Thematic Inquiry Group on Disinformation and Propaganda held its first working meeting.

The group consisting of eight lawmakers will analyze disinformation and propaganda challenges facing the country and submit a conclusion and recommendations to the Foreign Affairs Committee.

On March 1, the Thematic Inquiry Group on Disinformation and Propaganda with the Irish experts, whose visit was supported by the Westminster Fund for Democracy (WFD). According to the Parliament’s press office, the guests shared their own experience about the mechanisms of collecting, processing and analyzing information.

On February 26, the Parliament’s Sector Economy and Economic Policy Committee convened to deliberate on the TBC bank case, but the hearing ended without case-related discussions. The President of the National Bank of Georgia, Koba Gvenetadze, who was to deliver a report to the Committee members, said he did not consider it reasonable to speak on the issue publicly, implying that he would not answer the politicians’ questions. Former Chairman of the bank’s Supervisory Board and his deputy, Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze, respectively, were present in the chamber as well, but could not take the floor.

On February 26, the Legal Issues Committee discussed in its first reading the Bill on Making Amendments to the Criminal Code of Georgia, according to which distortion of the Georgian maps will become punishable.

According to the bill, “preparation, production, promotion, application, import, transportation, export, realization of the electronic or printed map of Georgia reflecting violation of the principle of territorial integrity of Georgia in view of distribution of misleading information about territorial integrity of Georgia shall be subject to the penalty or detention for a term of up to 2 years.”

On February 28, the Defense and Security Committee discussed with its second reading the Bill on National Security Policy Planning and Coordination submitted by the Government’s Parliamentary Secretary, Natia Mikeladze. During the committee session, MPs from opposition factions again pushed the issue of the President’s involvement in the National Security Council; however, Irakli Sesiashvili, chair of the Defense and Security Committee explained that since the NSC is a consultative body at the Prime Minister, the President cannot be engaged in capacity of a permanent member.

More lawmakers quit GDDG

MP Gedevan Popkhadze said at a press briefing on February 25 that he would quit the ruling Georgian Dream party. Later on February 27, MP Zviad Kvachantiradze, chairman of the Diaspora and Caucasus Issues Committee, also announced his decision to quit the ruling party.

Visits:

The Chairman of the Parliament

Other visits

Local meetings

Roman Gotsiridze’s news briefing

Speaking at a news briefing on February 25, MP Roman Gotsiridze of the United National Movement, unveiled his legislative proposal on introducing tax privileges for small entrepreneurs.

He explained that all legal entities or natural persons, whose incomes are less than GEL 100,000, do not pay VAT; according to his legislative proposal, this limit will increase up to GEL 165,000. If approved, the bill will enter into force on January 1, 2020. The proposal was not supported by the Sector Economy and Economic Policy Committee on February 25.

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