**Georgian Parliament Extends Mandate of Investigative Commission**
The Georgian Dream-led Parliament has voted to extend the mandate of its investigative commission, which is probing alleged crimes by the United National Movement (UNM), a major opposition party. The commission’s term has been pushed through until July 5.
According to a resolution adopted on May 27, the commission’s mandate will be extended for one month from June 5. This move is part of the Georgian Dream government’s efforts to crack down on what it calls the “collective UNM”, which includes several opposition parties that won seats in last year’s elections. The investigative commission was created in February to probe alleged crimes committed during the UNM’s rule from 2003-2012.
**GD’s Push to Ban Opposition Parties**
The extension of the commission’s mandate comes as the Georgian Dream government is pushing through a legislative package that would effectively ban several opposition parties. Tea Tsulukiani, the former Justice Minister and a key figure in the Georgian Dream party, chairs the investigative commission. All non-participating opposition leaders, except for former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, have been subjected to bail, with some facing arrest.
**Arrests and Bail Conditions**
Former Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili and Girchi-More Freedom party leader Zurab Japaridze were among those arrested. They reject the legitimacy of the Parliament and its investigative commission, and therefore did not pay their bail. Under Georgian law, failure to appear before the commission can result in bail conditions or up to one year in prison.
**International Concerns**
The extension of the commission’s mandate has raised concerns from international partners. The Lithuanian Foreign Minister recently warned against normalizing ties with the Georgian Dream government amid democratic decline. The Secretary General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) also criticized the Georgian government for refusing his bid to hire a critical former ambassador, citing concerns about human rights and democracy.
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