The summoning of Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili for questioning over her claims on election fraud in Saturday’s vote is a “politically motivated move”, according to Eka Beselia, leader of the For Justice party.
Beselia argued that the summons, which comes in the wake of Russian official Dmitry Medvedev’s recent call for Zourabichvili’s arrest, was more of a “political settlement” than an impartial investigation.
Beselia contended that, under Georgia’s constitution, the president is “inviolable” while performing official duties, making any form of forced attendance or restriction of freedom unlawful.
“The Constitution, which is the highest hierarchical law, defines that the President is inviolable as long as she performs the presidential powers,” she said, warning that any attempt to force Zourabichvili’s cooperation would amount to an overreach.
Labeling the invitation as an “imitation of an investigation”, Beselia sees the process as a display of “political retribution and action on society,” suggesting it could further divide the Georgian public. Zourabichvili, however, has reportedly refused to comply with the summons.
