Ruling party MP Kirtskhalia slams UNM opposition of exploiting Independence Day while ignoring 2011 crackdown legacy

Parliamentary majority leader Irakli Kirtskhalia has accused the opposition United National Movement of having no moral right to speak about freedom or democratic values because of its actions while in power.

Speaking during a plenary session of parliament on Wednesday, Kirtskhalia criticised the opposition for holding a protest rally on Georgia’s Independence Day and described radical opposition groups as “anti-state” forces.

The ruling party MP referred repeatedly to the dispersal of anti-government protests on 26 May 2011, when police broke up demonstrations in central Tbilisi during the final years of the UNM government.

Kirtskhalia claimed the opposition would “willingly repeat the same actions” to achieve political goals and accused the former ruling party of violence, intimidation and suppression of dissent during its time in office.

He also referred to a recent television interview broadcast on the programme “Anatomy of the Regime”, in which relatives of deceased protest participant Suliko Asatiani discussed alleged abuse and violence connected to the 2011 events.

Kirtskhalia added the Georgian society must continue reminding the opposition about what he described as the consequences of its rule and the legacy of fear and repression associated with the UNM government.

The MP said the current authorities would not allow “history to be rewritten” or responsibility for past events to be avoided.