Ruling party MP warns ex-PM Gakharia's party against seeking probe into Parliament clash

Ruling party MP Irakli Zarkua has warned the opposition For Georgia party against pursuing an investigation into the recent physical altercation in Parliament, saying the outcome may not be in the party's favour.

Speaking in response to the party's demand for an inquiry on Wednesday, Zarkua said he did not believe an investigation would produce conclusions favourable to the opposition.

"If I were Gakharia and his party, I would think twice. A different outcome may emerge because it is quite clear who initiated [the violence]," Zarkua told Parliament.

He acknowledged that physical confrontations in legislatures were undesirable but argued they occurred in parliaments around the world.

"Such incidents are not only seen in the Georgian Parliament. They also happen in the parliaments of European and other developed countries. Is it good? No. Is it acceptable? No. But when someone insults you, these things happen," he said.

Zarkua claimed the ruling party had tried to avoid the confrontation and accused the opposition of provoking the incident.

"If anyone launches an investigation, I do not think it will end with conclusions favourable to them, because it is clear who initiated the insults and how events unfolded afterwards. We did everything to prevent it, but in the end they crossed the line, and what happened happened. Naturally, it was not a good thing," he said.