“I address the EU Ambassador and all other ambassadors who directly support the United National Movement (UNM) – how many people must testify to this commission for you to stop supporting a criminal regime?” Guram Macharashvili, Executive Secretary of the People’s Power party, stated during a session of the Investigative Commission on the Activities of the 2003-2012 Regime and its Political Officials, where they were hearing testimony from parents of young people killed in the so-called 2006 Navtlughi special operation.

Macharashvili noted that the temporary parliamentary investigative commission’s term would not be sufficient to fully explore all issues, as the regime managed to commit many atrocities during its nine years in power.

“Unfortunately, we have not yet heard from all the victims and families directly affected by that government. I want to address the EU Ambassador, the German Ambassador, and all ambassadors who openly support the United National Movement: How many testimonies does this commission need? How many parents lost their children, how many survivors from devastated families, individuals whose property was confiscated and morally upright people who have so far refrained from speaking out—how many more must appear? Tell us, gentlemen, when will you cease supporting the United National Movement as a criminal regime?

We, the commission members and parliamentarians, have questions. Though they don’t answer our questions, let us still ask – including on behalf of the victims – the EU Ambassador who directly advocated for the United National Movement before the elections and unfortunately maintains the same position today; the German Ambassador who criticizes our democracy and claims the United National Movement is a good opposition – simply give us a number, how many testimonies are needed?

Unfortunately, this commission’s term won’t be sufficient for all these people to come forward and fully exhaust this topic because they managed to do so much harm in nine years. I think it wouldn’t be bad if they answered this question: how many victims are needed before you stop supporting the United National Movement?

Members of the European Parliament who criticize our democracy today won’t even have questions. The EU Ambassador is from Poland, the same country that sent doctors to help smuggle out Mikheil Saakashvili, the creator of this regime – they wanted to remove Saakashvili piece by piece from Vivamedi Clinic. Why don’t they have questions about that now?” stated Macharashvili.