The Speaker of the Parliament, David Usupashvili addressed the population of Georgia from Kutaisi.

The Statement:

I would like to make several considerable statements. Yesterday, the Bureau of the Parliament made the legal and Constitutional decision. The speculations that the Parliament made any anti-Constitutional actions, are groundless. The Constitution envisages delivery of the annual speech of the President in the Parliament and we have stated that he would be given this opportunity. The Rules of Procedure of the Parliament provides that the annual speech of the President in the Parliament shall be arranged on the first spring session as a rule. The President himself refused to use the first spring session which was on February 6. Thus, no matter what is the date of his speech, February 8 or February 25, it is breach neither of the Constitution nor the Rules of Procedure of the Parliament. The majority made the reasonable decision, when under the current background in Georgia due to the Leader of the National Movement and the deeds thereof, to prevent aggravations in order to have time to achieve the agreement with the people, who still have prudence and patriotism, and prevent further aggravations. The previous day, I proposed to the representatives of minority to think about postponement of the speech of the President but they rejected my offer, inasmuch as it seems, they still cannot oppose the will of Mikheil Saakashvili. Correspondingly, we have made the decision to postpone but not to abolish his speech, thus giving him and the National Movement one more opportunity to draw conclusions about the current process in the country, that they have lost the power, public support. What we have now – yesterday they told me that the Administration of the President contacted the leadership of the National Library and asked the venue for the event. It was one more attempt of provocation. I guess he was expecting us to refuse, as the National Library is under the patronage of the Parliament, it is one of the agencies of the Parliament, though autonomous. Of course, we did not want to impede him, but the question is why he made such step. If he wanted to make a speech, he could do it from the place, where he is going to do it now, if he really had something to say to people and it was urgent for today. He chose the place, building, on the open air, where it would be difficult to provide safety. He shall realize that there is a grave discontent accumulated in Georgia and he shall take it into account. Though, when he does not consider it, it means he has some other reasons. And it was crystal clear from the action of Mr. Gigi Ugulava. You all saw, despite some TV channels did not provide the full shots, when he walked approximately 40 meters, scanning and shaking his hands – come on, who you are out there. It was the defiant action, which none of the responsible politicians shall make.

Meanwhile, I saw the shots, when the physical insult was performed on Mrs. Chiora Taktakishvili and she was bleeding. It is inadmissible. I hail the statement of the Minister of Internal Affairs, Irakli Gharibashvili about the necessity to investigate this fact. The concrete persons shall be revealed, committing this offence.

The representatives of the National Movement did not use the corridor, made and defended by police. Thus, it indicates that Mikheil Saakasvhili, who holds the forma authority, and who has not political way out, is ready to do anything. He is ready to sacrifice the country to his freaks. Now it is the responsibility of our Government and population. I would like to underline to the Members of the Government, Members of the Parliament, citizens, the persons concerned with the better future of our country, not to sacrifice the future of our country to the two-minute revenge. Let us not give the opportunity to people to establish another agenda in the country in order to avoid the problems, which were the reason why people refused them to be in the Government and why law-enforcement works on quite grave cases.

I address all the people to observe the law, the Constitution and to have responsibility on this issue. It was a good decision of Irakli Gharibashvili to arrive at the place. It is the duty of the Minister, of the police, but I would like to advise, to address all the people that more preventive measures are necessary as we see that Mikheil Saakashvili will use people as he used to do. He will use the fact that people have anger. He will use the fact that the part of the society is on the edge. I address the citizens, not to admit such action, not to give him the possibility to cover other issues and thus evade from responsibility imposed on him. Thus, wherever he appears, we have to maintain our dignity and not violate the law. The shots I was were disgusting. We cannot tolerate and repeat it and I am sure that the police and the leaders will draw appropriate conclusions that we have to undertake measures at the initial stage to prevent aggravations. There were lots of cameramen working at the place and I am sure, they froze every episode and today and tomorrow morning, we will reveal the offenders, committing the vandalism.

I reiterate, when we see the people, ready to commit such provocation, what we saw from Gigi Ugulava, it is impossible to prevent everything. But we have to manage it. The responsibility is imposed on the new Government and we shall manage it.

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Answers to the questions

If Mikheil Saakashvili could realize anything, he would not drive to this situation. I spent the last month and half to achieve the agreement to make joint steps with the National Movement to adopt the amendments to the Constitution. It would reduce tension. It would give us the possibility to end this vague situation. The major part of the National Movement was ready for it but one person did not let it happen. Normalization in the country is not useful for this person. I do not want anyone to understand it as excuse or an argument. The statement by the Interior Minister gave as faith that everyone will be punished. We shall learn how to take care of our country. Mr. Ugulava made the provocation, Mrs. Taktakishvili was beaten, and it is the way they act. Yesterday and today, I hear the dangerous words, which are evidently planned, there is the discussion about withdrawal from the Constitutional space, about the civil war, Mr. Saakashvili uses the dangerous words. That’s why it is necessary to have more sensitivity. The Government is in the hands of other people, Mr. Saakashvili holds the forma power and we shall not sacrifice our country to this fact. The speech of the President in the Parliament, delivered in the previous years, was possible for the Parliament and the President. We have not abolished this speech, we spoke about the issue, concerning the checks and balances between the President and the Parliament. We are ready to listen to them. This is the key to normalization of the situation. This is the reality. I expect a few words in his speech, beneficial to the country. Life goes on and we have to manage to do it. Neither Mr. Saakashvili, nor Mr. Ivanishvili nor Mr. Usupashvili have the right to drive our country in favor of our interests. The elections were the political sentencing for him. He shall believe it. The plan, concerning the National Library, could be implemented in Kutaisi as well. It would have more resonance. It was his plan but this is one side of the medal and on the other side is up to us to do, thus I address everyone, willingly or nor, not to aggravate problems, which give the opportunity to some persons to create some arguments. The police shall undertake measures earlier, though police could not deal with the people, planning the disorders. There is the simplest way out but it does not provide maintenance of power for Saakashvili. We hold the dialogue with the National Movement on every issue. In this part, what to do with Saakasvhili as the President, we as the majority, cannot arrange it for him. I saw the father of Buta Robakidze. Who is responsible towards this person? Thus, we shall do our best, is it the public meetings or other measures, I, as the Speaker of the Parliament, address our electors, as soon as they are involved in any type of violence, they number, marked by them, the vote gave by them, is abolished. I address them to maintain this choice and give us opportunity to run the country in a normal manner.