**Georgian Opposition Leader Jailed for Boycotting Government Commission**
In a move that has sparked concerns among opposition leaders, Judge Jvebe Nachkepia has sent Nika Gvaramia, the leader of the Ahali party, to pre-trial detention. This is the third time an opposition leader has been jailed for boycotting the Georgian Dream parliamentary commission investigating alleged crimes under the United National Movement rule.
Gvaramia’s refusal to pay a bail of around $11,000 set after he defied a summons by the commission led to his imprisonment. The politician was aware that he would be sent to pre-trial detention and had arrived at Rustavi penitentiary before the court hearing. Other opposition leaders, including Nika Melia and Zurab Japaridze, have also been put in pre-trial detention for similar reasons.
This move by the government commission has raised concerns about the erosion of democratic freedoms in Georgia. The commission, led by Tea Tsulukiani, is tasked with investigating alleged crimes committed by the United National Movement government officials. However, its actions have been widely seen as an attempt to silence opposition voices and restrict democratic participation.
**Background on the Controversial Commission**
The Georgian Dream parliament’s temporary investigative commission has been accused of being a tool for the ruling party to target opposition leaders and politicians. The commission has summoned both alleged victims and former officials, including current opposition leaders, who have refused to appear. The exception was Giorgi Gakharia, former GD prime minister and current leader of the opposition For Georgia party.
The commission is addressing topics such as alleged torture, business racketeering, and the August 2008 war, which it blames on the former UNM government and ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili. The ruling party claims that its final report will be submitted to the country’s Constitutional Court to ban the UNM and its “successor parties.” This has sparked concerns about the intentions of the commission and the impact on democratic freedoms in Georgia.
**International Reactions**
The jailing of Nika Gvaramia has sparked reactions from abroad. Human rights organizations have expressed concerns about the erosion of democratic freedoms in Georgia. The European Union, a major donor to Georgia’s democracy-building efforts, has also been critical of the commission’s actions.
As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how far the Georgian government will go in its attempts to silence opposition voices and restrict democratic participation.
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