Georgian Parliament reinstates "Treason" article in Criminal Code Opposition sees political motives

The Georgian Parliament has voted to reinstate the article on "Treason" in the country’s Criminal Code, which had been abolished in 2007 under President Mikheil Saakashvili.  

During the parliamentary discussion of this legislative initiative, Mamuka Mdinaradze, Chairman of the parliamentary majority and Executive Secretary of the ruling Georgian Dream party, stated that the article’s removal from the Criminal Code had been driven by the former authorities’ awareness of their future accountability for criminal activities, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

The article on "Treason" in Georgia’s Criminal Code stipulates punishment for officials who conclude unconstitutional international agreements, undermine external security, disclose state secrets, engage in espionage, sabotage, conspiracy, or rebellion with the aim of overthrowing the constitutional order.  

The Georgian opposition believes that reinstating the article is intended to facilitate the announced trial against the former ruling party, the United National Movement, and its leader, Saakashvili. To this end, the parliament has already established a temporary investigative commission to examine evidence of the former authorities’ criminal activities.

By Khagan Isayev