**Georgian Commission Under Fire: Should Giorgi Gakharia Confront Them?**
A heated debate is unfolding in Georgia over whether former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia should appear before a parliamentary temporary investigative commission. The commission, seen by many as illegitimate and a tool for the ruling Georgian Dream party to divert attention from real issues, has summoned Gakharia to answer questions.
Zaza Tavadze, a member of the opposition party “For Georgia,” believes that appearing before the commission would be a bold move that could strip it of its moral right to function. “If Giorgi Gakharia decides to go before this commission and tell the whole truth, I think it would be a great idea,” Tavadze said in an interview.
Others argue that attending the commission would give it legitimacy. However, many see the commission as a tool for the Georgian Dream party to attack its opponents and distract from pressing issues like political prisoners, election fraud, and the erosion of constitutional frameworks.
Tavadze emphasized that Gakharia’s decision is ultimately up to him. “It’s clearly an individual matter,” she said. “Some people think it would be better if he didn’t go, while others believe he should confront them.”
A key question is how the commission’s actions in 2019 could be used against Gakharia. Tavadze dismissed this as laughable, pointing out that the real culprits are within the Georgian Dream party itself.
“If anyone is betraying the Georgian people and statehood today, it is the Georgian Dream regime,” she said. “They stole the European elections from the Georgian people, deprived them of one of their core constitutional rights, and usurped power.”
In essence, Tavadze believes that Gakharia’s decision to resign was a legitimate response to the erosion of democratic norms and the rule of law in Georgia.
**The Legitimacy of the Commission**
At its core, this debate revolves around the legitimacy of the commission itself. Critics see it as a vehicle for the Georgian Dream party to attack opponents and maintain power. Tavadze’s statement that appearing before the commission would strip it of its moral right to function highlights the deep-seated skepticism about the commission’s intentions.
The question remains: will Gakharia decide to confront the commission, or will he choose to avoid it? Whatever his decision, it is clear that the stakes are high for Georgia’s democracy and the opposition parties fighting against the Georgian Dream regime.