UNM’s Lasha Parulava: Gia Baramidze may have misphrased the context, but he apologised; there are no grounds for prosecution

“Gia Baramidze may have used a specific phrase and context incorrectly, but he has apologised for it, and President Saakashvili has addressed this as well,” stated Lasha Parulava, a member of the United National Movement.

According to Parulava, there are no legal grounds for criminal prosecution regarding the matter.

“We have physically defended Georgia’s territorial integrity, sovereignty, and freedom, and indeed, Georgia’s victories in international courts are a credit to us all. Therefore, it would be best if everyone put an end to this political speculation and manipulation. The man has paid his price; he has issued an apology, and this matter is closed.

We have reiterated that Russia has already sentenced Gia Baramidze to six and a half years in prison; given that Baramidze has clarified the true nature of the issue, the prosecution’s current actions are simply an extension of that original charge. As a matter of fact, when it comes to the 1990s, it is difficult for me to give specific answers because I was just a child at the time. We have Gia Baramidze’s explanation; he apologised on the one hand and clarified what he meant on the other. There are no grounds for criminal prosecution here; there is only manipulation and an attempt by the regime to lock up a political opponent,” stated Parulava.

For context, an investigation was launched into comments made by United National Movement member Gia Baramidze, in which he accused Georgian fighters of executing prisoners of war. Witnesses interviewed as part of the investigation have accused the former senior official of lying, branding his statement a deliberate provocation and demanding an apology. Baramidze himself, however, maintains that his words were taken out of context and that the case against him is driven entirely by political motives.