Expressing Dissimilar Opinion in Parliament Sentenced by Suppression, Scolding and Evoking from Delegation

Aleksi Bezhanishvili

On September 27th at the plenary session of Parliament deputies Petre Mamradze and Akaki Bobokhidze got in physical argument. Akaki Bobokhidze got mad at the dissimilar opinion of opposition deputy and physically insulted him.

According to the Parliamentary correspondent of interpressnews, the conflict followed Petre Mamradze’s speech at the plenary session. He called the events of August 2008 “Georgian provocation.” Akaki Bobokhidze got angry, called Mamradze a scoundrel and hit him in the face.

The members of the Parliamentary majority tried to calm Bobokhidze down. Khatuna Gogorishvili stated that “Petre Mamradze had no other choice because he got call from Russia.”

Davit Bakradze asked Parliamentary opposition “not to use microphones against the state interests.” “I call on everybody to be careful. But I understand that there is a border and nobody should pass it. This was passing the border of state interest,” – Bakradze added.

According to him, it is really hard to hear that Georgia started war and cut its parts – Abkhazia and Samachablo away.

“It is very hard to hear this. I call on you to be careful. Please, do not make statement which contradicts state interests of Georgia. You can criticize government, but do not harm state,” – stated Davit Bakradze and promised the opposition that while he is a head of Parliament he will not let anyone turn off the microphone for criticizing government.

After the physical argument, Deputy Akaki Bobokhidze stated that he will request to decline the deputy authority if someone in Parliament states again that the wars were provoked by Georgia.

Bobokhidze stated that the conflict did not start for addressing Mikheil Saakashvili since he has been mentioned in different contexts by many.

“Never say that these wars were inspired by Georgian side,” – Bobokhidze addressed the opposition and added that if the Parliament discusses the similar matters again he will decline deputy’s authority.

In general, Akaki Bobokhidze is noted to have an impulsive nature. He is intolerant towards dissimilar opinions and physically argues with people. It can be said that the violence that he uses against the opponents has gained criminal nature.

Several years ago Akaki Bobkhidze beat the journalist Irakli Imnaishvili on live broadcasting in Kutaisi. At this time, Bobokhidze was holding post of President’s procurator in Imereti. He soon resigned from his job after the incident. However, he was returned to high political posts soon.

After the situation calmed down in Parliament, the head of Parliament Davit Bakradze stated that if Petre Mamradze’s position is the position of his fraction Ertoba Samarlianobisatvis, he would be glad that Deputy Gia Tortladze evoked Dimitri Lortkipanidze, member of this fraction from the Parliamentary delegations.

Jondi Baghaturia from Dimitri Lortkipanidze’s fraction protested against inclusion of this matter in the agenda and asked why only the issue of evoking was being discussed and not the issue of fixing new quotas for new fraction.

The head of Parliamentary Committee of procedural matters Khatuna Gogorishvili replied to Baghaturia. She expressed surprise that the issue of including/not including in the delegation provoked such emotions. She said that in order to have a quota in the delegation there should be a vacancy. Gogorishvili noted that before there are vacancies in the delegations, it would be impossible to discuss the matter of fixing new quotas for new fraction.

The deputy Dimitri Lortkipanidze replied to Gogorishvili and asked when the issue of evoking him from the “group of friends” would be discussed. He stated that he was evoked from the Parliamentary delegations of OSCE, GUUAM and orthodox countries the creation of which was initiated by him. According to Lortkipanidze, it is a political persecution for his dissimilar positions.

After the end of the debates, the Parliament chair Davit Bakradze addressed the deputies and asked them to read the regulations of Parliament well.

“Please read the regulations at least once before you conduct shows and stand before the microphone with a fervid speech,” – Davit Bakradze stated.