Political standstill as gridlock continues
Amid ongoing political deadlock in Georgia, a way to avoid political crisis remains to be found. The extra-parliamentary opposition suspects the pro-government United National Movement' (UNM) proposed dialogue on that nature of the institutional, systemic and political changes the country needs. The UNM meanwhile rejects the opposition's demand for a presidential resignation.
Unless either or both sides modify their positions, the political gridlock will continue. It could continue for any lenght of time the ruling UNM can patiently hold onto power or for as long as the extra-parliamentary opposition retains the human and financial resources to keep protesters in the streets. The situation in the country damages Georgia's image internationally, politically as well as economically, and the opposing sides should take the fact into consideration. Experts emphasis that dialogue is key, and by and large advocate an open-ended dialogue with neither preconditions included as a viable and positive means of breaking the deadlock.
Meanwhile, Davit Bakradze, the parliamentary chairman, declared early this month that the authorities plan to launch "serious institutional reforms" calling the opposition to get on board. With Mr. Bakradze's declaration the opposition parties have an opportunity to give up the language of ultimatum and decide in coming days whether they are ready and willing to be part of this process of planned reforms. Mr. Bakradze additionally excludes the possibility of early elections in Georgia. Bakradze was speaking at a session of the parliamentary bureau, which was held in the town of Gori, instead of the Parliament. No parliamentary session has been held since the launch of protests rallies on April 9 and some of the parliamentary committee sittings were held outdoors in the capital, Tbilisi, since then. Ruling party officials complain that the situation is being manipulated to prevent direct contact between the lawmakers and those who have come to protest outside the Parliament.
The opposition parties, organisers of the ongoing protests, announced in a joint statement that they plan to mount pressure on the authorities through "picketing" of a key east-west highway in the country. The planned picket was, however postponed for 3 days due to developments in the Mukhrovani military unit and in particular in response to video footage released by the Georgian Interior Ministry which appeared to demonstrate a military threat from Russia. The extra-parliamentary opposition, unlike the parliamentary opposition, described the MIA video footages as "staged".
Earlier on May 5 the Interior Ministry stated that it had arrested Gia Gvaladze, who was commander of the Defense Ministry's special task force in 1990s, in connection with plotting of the mutiny. The Interior Ministry also released a video footage, recorded apparently with a body-worn covert camera and showing a man, purportedly Gia Gvaladze, talking to several persons - one whose face was blurred in order not to identify him and another who was wearing the body-camera. When speaking about the planned mutiny Gvaladze mentions names of former senior military and security officials, including of Davit Tevzadze, a former defense minister; Jemal Gakhokidze, a former security minister; Koba Kobaladze, a former commander of national guard and Gia Karkarashvili, a commander of the Georgian army during the Abkhaz war in early 90s. Karkarashvili is now affiliated with Irakli Alasania's political team, part of opposition Alliance for Georgia. Gvaladze is caught on camera saying that these people would be supporting the planned mutiny. He also says in the footage that the murder of some senior officials and President Saakashvili's close allies were also planned.
Targets for assassination included Giga Bokeria, deputy foreign minister; Vano Merabishvili, the interior minister and Gigi Ugulava, the Tbilisi mayor. The ex-Minister also says in the footage that 5,000-strong Russian troops would move in and take positions at key east-west highway close to Tbilisi. Additionally, the first unofficial reports about mutiny in Mukhrovani military unit emerged before the noon on May 5. A commander of a military unit, which staged a mutiny on that now infamous Tuesday morning, was arrested. Several of his associates from the same unit were also taken into custody, although several others remain at large. The incident was referred to by the Georgian officials as a "plotted mutiny at minimum, aimed at thwarting NATO military exercises and maximum - organizing full-scale military mutiny in the country."
