The parliamentary majority will not support the draft law "on deoligarchization" in the third reading at the September 19 plenary session. Chairman of Georgian Dream Irakli Kobakhidze stated about it after the majority meeting.

According to Kobakhidze, the Georgian EU Integration Commission under the Government has already approved the project of de-oligarchization action plan, which will be finalized after additional consultations with the European Commission. The draft action plan for de-oligarchization will be sent to the Venice Commission by the end of this week. Accordingly, under the conditions of approval of the action plan, the law on "de-oligarchization" adopted by the Parliament in two readings lost its practical relevance.

Kobakhidze explained what issues were discussed at the majority meeting.

"Our conversation touched on topics related to the European Union.

As you know, a week ago meetings were held and, accordingly, negotiations were held with representatives of the European Commission, including Josep Borrell, as well as with other high-ranking officials of the European Commission.

At these meetings, four issues were identified on which the European Commission wants to see progress by the end of September this year. The Georgian government will fully respond to the requests of the European Commission in all four directions. We agreed on this today at the majority meeting.

I want to touch on four issues:

First, after the meeting with the representatives of the European Commission, in accordance with the recommendation of the European Commission, the Georgia-EU Integration Commission under the Government of Georgia has already approved the draft action plan for de-oligarchization, which will be finalized after additional consultations with the European Commission. In addition, the draft action plan will be sent to the Venice Commission by the end of this week. This was also one of the recommendations of the European Commission.

Under the conditions of the approval of the action plan, the law on deoligarchization adopted by the Parliament in two readings lost its practical relevance. Also, in accordance with the recommendations of the European Commission, the Parliament will consider the third reading tomorrow, and won't adopt the draft law, which is based on the so-called personalized approach. At the same time, I call on the European Commission to also reject the personalized approach, which was reflected in the 12 priorities and which was actively used for speculation by the opposition in Georgia, as well as by the MEPs connected with them, or other foreign [politicians]", said Kobakhidze.

As for the organic law "on common courts", according to Kobakhidze, the parliamentary majority has already developed the relevant bill, which will be initiated by the end of this week and sent to the Venice Commission.

"This was also one of the requests of the European Commission, which we fully comply with," said Kobakhidze.

Another draft amendment to the "election code" initiated in the Parliament of Georgia, which concerns the election of the CEC chairman and members, will be considered and adopted by the Parliament in the first reading during the current session week. In accordance with the recommendation of the European Commission, the draft law will also be sent to the Venice Commission by the end of this week.

According to Kobakhidze, according to the recommendation of the European Commission, the legislation related to the establishment of the anti-corruption bureau, special investigation service and personal data protection service will be sent to the Venice Commission by the end of this week.

"In other words, there were four main recommendations that were voiced by Josep Boreli and high representatives of the European Commission. We have fully responded to all four issues," Kobakhidze said.

In addition, according to him, in accordance with the recommendation of the European Commission, the national risk assessment document on money laundering will be approved, and also the initial draft of the human rights strategy action plan will be prepared.

"Also, information on the investigation related to the identification and prosecution of the organizers of the violence that occurred on July 5, 2021 will be sent to the European Commission. Both sectoral and coordination meetings with non-governmental organizations will continue," added Kobakhidze.

Irakli Kobakhidze hopes that the European Council will make a positive decision regarding Georgia in December.

"We hope that the European Council will make a fair decision in December, which will remove the artificial excuse from the radical opposition to inflame radicalism in the country and qualitatively reduce the so-called polarization, the maintenance of which can only be in the interests of the ill-wishers of Georgia," said Kobakhidze.

source: IPN