Paving Way for Dialogue Appears Challenging
The experts underline the urgency of dialogue on specific issue areas such as constitutional changes, the improved system of checks and balance between the different government branches, early (possibly parliamentary) elections. Others propose the formation of the government of "national unity" for the transition period (unlike the coalition government, the government of "national unity" will ignore party affiliation to prioritize only on the professional qualities of the proposed person). The European Commission is suggested as an intermediary of the dialogue process.
Georgian politicians outline the following options:
Parliament speaker Davit Bakradze reiterated that the government was prepared for dialogue with the opposition and that the dialogue in this political crisis had no alternative. However, Bakradze defined that the opposition and the authorities had different approaches to the idea of dialogue.
MP Giorgi Targamadze, leader of Christian-Democratic Movement (CDM) and of the parliamentary minority group, proposed number of measures that he outlined could help create conditions for a dialogue between the opposition and the authorities. The seven-point proposal involves measures targeting judiciary; election commission; media and law enforcement agencies. The measures involve: Resignation of Chairman of Supreme Court, Kote Kublashvili; Resignation of Chairman of the Central Election Commission, Levan Tarkhnishvili; Return of Imedi TV to its legal owners - family of late tycoon Badri Patarkatsishvili; Issuing a license to Tbilisi-based pro-opposition Maestro TV allowing the station to broadcast through satellite; Replacement of the current board of the public broadcaster; Setting up of a five-member monitoring team through an agreement between the key political parties, which will monitor balanced and unbiased coverage of the developments; Setting up of a monitoring team through an agreement between the key political parties, which will consider complaints filed against the police over violations related with right of expression and free movement. MP Giorgi Targamadze said at a news conference that "political crisis is moving to a deadlock" and signs of "defusing the tensions" were not seen.
Opposition reinvigorated its drive from April 13 by creating an additional focal point of protest in Tbilisi outside the presidential residence. Up to thirty tents were set up outside the residence in the Avlabari district as part of what the opposition says will be a permanent, round-the-clock rally. Simultaneously, opposition activists are keeping vigil for the fifth night outside the Parliament. Couple of hundred of opposition activists were gathered outside the presidential residence by midnight with some of them blowing whistles and chanting anti-Saakashvili slogans. Some of opposition leaders were also there, including Levan Gachechiladze; Irakli Alasania, leader of Alliance for Georgia; Nino Burjanadze, leader of Democratic Movement-United Georgia; Kakha Kukava, co-leader of Conservative Party and Koba Davitashvili, leader of Party of People. Opposition leaders decided to further widen geographical area of protests and announced of plans to set up about dozen of tents outside the public broadcaster in Tbilisi.
Movement Justice for Georgia led by the former PM Zurab Noghaideli stopped participating in the protests rallies in Tbilisi starting since April 10.
