Ruling party “won’t let” Parliamentary investigation into Shovi landslide – opposition MP

An opposition MP from the Girchi opposition party, Sandro Rakviashvili, on Monday claimed the ruling Georgian Dream party would not allow the Parliamentary investigation into the August 3 landslide in the country’s Shovi resort, killing 24. 

 

In his press comments, the lawmaker accused the Georgian Dream authorities of making “controversial statements” over its response to the disaster, adding they had triggered “absolutely legitimate doubts and question marks”. 

 

“In a normal country, there would be no need for such a commission as a domestic emergency service would have worked differently and there would be more trust in a general investigation. In a situation where none of the institutions is trusted, it might make sense to create an investigative commission in the Parliament, but given the current political situation, I believe the ruling party will not allow it”, Rakviashvili said. 

 

The GD claims the opposition has demanded the commission to “add to the political tension” in the country, rejecting allegations over the delayed response to the disaster – after three hours from receiving the notification – and pledged to ensure early warning systems “soon”, despite being in power for 11 years.