Parliament Weekly: May 6-11

Committee hearings

  • Sector Economy and Economic Policy Committee

On May 6, the Parliament’s Sector Economy and Economic Policy Committee held a hearing, where the National Movement faction raised the issue of summoning ex-Economy Minister Giorgi Kobulia to the legislature to discuss the issues of his performance and the reasons of his dismissal.

MP Roman Gotsiridze, who chairs the faction, noted that in his recent televised interview, Kobulia touched upon very interesting issues and unveiled the reasons of his dismissal, which absolutely differed from the official version. Therefore, Gotsiridze added, Kobulia should come and address lawmakers.

MP Roman Kakulia, who chairs the Sector Economy and Economic Policy Committee, expressed his positive attitude to the initiative, but later at the May 10 committee hearing he rejected any need for summoning the former minister to the Parliament. Citing the absence of majority representatives, the committee chair postponed the hearing without putting the issue to the vote.

  • Human Rights and Civil Integration Committee    

On May 8, Chair of the Human Rights and Civil Integration Committee, Sophio Kiladze initiated a Thematic Inquiry Group on Labor Safety enabling MPs to thoroughly study and analyze labor safety challenges in Georgia and to ensure adequate response to them. Public agencies, NGOs, trade unions and business associations will join the process.

Later on the same day, the Committee discussed the amendments to the Code of Administrative Offences presented by Georgian Dream lawmaker, Irakli Sesiashvili. The bill aims at preventing misleading information about territorial integrity of Georgia and effectively regulating the responses to the offenses, such are: publication of the e-map or the printed map violating territorial integrity of Georgia, preparation, use, import and transportation of the items reflecting violated territorial integrity, envisaging administrative penalty at GEL 100 for natural persons and GEL 150 for legal entities including confiscation.

  • Field committee session

On May 10-11, the Human Rights and Civil Integration Committee and the Public Defender’s Office held a two-day field session to discuss the Public Defender’s annual report. According to the Parliament’s press office, the rights of children, women and people with disabilities, ill-treatment, rights of convicts, property and labor rights were among the agenda issues.

Parliament’s special session

On May 8, the Parliament convened a special session, Pursuant to the presidential decree. The lawmakers voted for the amendments to the Labor Code of Georgia in its third reading, according to which May 12 was declared as the Day of Hope, Day of Appurtenance of Georgia to Virgin Mary.

Meetings

  • On May 7, Irakli Kovzanadze, chair of the Parliament’s Finance and Budget Committee met with IMF Mission Chief, Mercedes Vera Martin. According to the Parliament’s press office, the tendencies of economic development in the country and the issues of fulfilling the state budget were discussed.
  • On May 7, MP Gela Samkharauli and State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality, Ketevan Tsikhelashvili met with locals in the village of Jokolo of Pankisi Gorge. According to the Parliament’s press office, challenges facing the local population were discussed. The participants also focused on the perspectives of development in the gorge and stressed the importance of active communication and dialogue between the government and local population.
  • On May 11, Parliament Speaker Irakli Kobakhidze held a working meeting with representatives of the government, diplomatic corps and NGOs to discuss the 4th wave of judicial reform. “Today, we are holding the final discussion to achieve consensus on all reform directions: disciplinary proceedings, High School of Justice and High Council of Justice. We want to end the discussion with a full consensus,” Speaker Kobakhidze noted.

Visits

  • On May 7-9, members of the Georgia-Azerbaijan Friendship Group, Makhir Darziev, Gela Samkharauli an Ramaz Nikolaishvili led by Vice Speaker, Zviad Dzidziguri paid a working visit to Baku upon invitation of their Azerbaijani counterparts. According to the Parliament’s press office, the sides discussed inter-parliamentary cooperation and development prospects.
  • On May 10, the Foreign Relations Committee Thematic Inquiry Group on Disinformation and Propaganda led by Nino Goguadze visited Great Britain. The visit aimed at sharing experience in thematic inquiries on disinformation.

Other events

  • Irakli Kobakhidze congratulates Georgia’s Muslim population on Ramadan

On May 6, Parliament Speaker Irakli Kobakhidze congratulated Georgia’s Muslim population on the beginning of Ramadan. “We have common homeland, history, joy and goals. You are the most important and integral part of our country and play a special role in the development of Georgia,” says Kobakhidze in the letter released by the Parliament.

  • Members of Defense and Security Committee visit ABL with Abkhazia

On May 7, Chair of the Defense and Security Committee, Irakli Sesiashvili and a group of committee members visited the administrative boundary line with Abkhazia, including the villages of Orsantia, Khurcha and Pakhulani.

“We familiarized ourselves with the situation on the ground, including the conditions of the MIA officers, their equipment and security. The so called checkpoints, which we visited today, are temporary,” Irakli Sesiashvili said.

The lawmakers also visited the place, where Georgian citizen Giga Otkhozoria was murdered by Abkhaz border guards in 2016.

  • Salome Samadashvili holds news briefing

On May 8, MP Salome Samadashvili of the National Movement held a news briefing and called on the government to fulfill the election-related recommendations issued by the United States, the European Union and the Council of Europe.

She noted that several high-level U.S. and European delegations visited Georgia recently to discuss the upcoming elections in Georgia.

“In a diplomatic language, this message means that if Georgia wants to be a European state, if Georgia wants to be part of the Trans-Atlantic space, you need to hold democratic elections. We are telling you what to do to ensure that elections in your country are considered democratic,” Samadashvili added.

  • May 9 – the Day of Victory over Fascism

On May 9, Parliament Speaker Irakli Kobakhidze and a group of lawmakers laid a wreath at the memorial of Unknown Soldier in Vake Park, in connection with the Day of Victory over Fascism. “Fascism was one of the greatest evils in global history. Today, we are marking the day of victory over fascism. First of all, I would like to congratulate our veterans, our heroes on this day and commemorate those, who sacrificed their lives in the war against fascism,” Kobakhidze noted.

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