Georgian Republicans: amendments to the law on political parties will strike the opposition

In Georgia, the Republican Party demands to suspend making amendments in the law "On Citizens' Political Associations", asserting that it will strike the opposition. This was stated on July 8 by David Usupashvili, one of the leaders of the Party.

"The Law 'On Citizens' Political Associations' was elaborated with assistance of the Commission and under supervision of the Council of Europe. We think that meanwhile amendments should be suspended, since the Venetian Commission has not made its conclusion yet," Mr Usupashvili has expressed his opinion.

According to the politician, these amendments to the Law were initiated by the party in power "United National Movement" as a sort of punishment of those parties, which have resolutely fixed their position and decided not to enter the parliament after elections on May 21.

"According to the law in force, political parties have been guaranteed during 18 months to receive state financing, irrespective of their participation in parliamentary elections or refusal to take deputy mandates. However, now they want to deprive the parties of such financing and these guarantees," the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent quotes David Usupashvili as saying.

On July 2, the Labour Party of Georgia sent a letter to Terry Davis, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, with a protest against amendments to the Law "On Citizens' Political Associations", which refer termination of state funding of the political parties, which remain outside the parliament.