NATO Parliamentary Assembly regrets pressure on Georgia

Georgia, Tbilisi, Nov. 13 / Trend N.Kirtskhalia / The NATO Parliamentary Assembly has added an additional clause to the final resolution of the session, expressing regret regarding the facts of pressure on the Georgian public broadcaster and local government. This additional clause wasn't in the draft resolution, but after discussion the NATO delegates decided to add a special clause to the document. The clause notes that the NATO Parliamentary Assembly calls upon the new leadership of Georgia to refrain from politically motivated detentions and arrests. One of the authors of the additional clause Lucio Malan, said the financial audit in Georgian public broadcaster is a subject of concern. According to him, the delegation members will necessarily visit Georgia and personally get acquainted with what is going on in the country. A reason for an additional clause in the resolution was the detention of former Georgian interior and defence minister Bacho Akhalaia, former chief of joint Staff of Georgian armed forces of Giorgi Kalandadze and brigade commander Zurab Shamatava, who are accused of mistreating the soldiers. They are charged under part 3 of Article 333 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which includes abuse of power, followed by 'an insult to the personal dignity of the victim.', which carries imprisonment from five to eight years. Akhalaia also had additional charges filed against him under article 143 'illegal suppression of freedom'. This article carries imprisonment of up to 12 years. All three detainees deny the charges. Do you have any feedback? Contact our journalist at agency@trend.az