The “Opposition Alliance” states that it is taking responsibility to ensure that the specific initiatives outlined in the report of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Moscow Mechanism are put into action. The position was voiced at a briefing today by Giga Lemonjava, a representative of the Droa party.

The alliance presented several specific initiatives that they plan to work on.

According to Lemonjava, they will “do everything possible to ensure that Bidzina Ivanishvili ends the same way many other autocrats and bloody dictators have ended - on the defendant’s bench at the International Criminal Court.”

“The Moscow Mechanism report has fundamentally changed the situation. It creates an entirely new international reality. Naturally, the opposition alliance now has new responsibilities in this reality. Until now, for the international community the Ivanishvili regime was simply illegitimate; today, in addition to being illegitimate, it is already an accused regime.

Therefore, we take responsibility to ensure that the concrete initiatives outlined in the Moscow Mechanism report are implemented. Today we want to present four of the most important initiatives that we will work on over the next month.

First, the report specifically indicates that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights should take an interest in the situation in Georgia. We have already started and will continue very active coordination with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, including through their representatives in Georgia, so that the High Commissioner exercises their mandate. The High Commissioner has the authority to conduct on-site inspections of the situation.

Second, there is the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the recommendation in the Moscow Mechanism regarding cooperation with this organization in investigating the alleged use of chemical weapons. We understand that those who used chemical agents against their own citizens will not cooperate with such an investigation. Therefore, we are starting active coordination with our international partners so they address the OPCW and request that it launch an investigation according to its statute. This would be an investigative process over which the regime would have no influence.

Third, there are states with universal jurisdiction that have the authority to investigate certain crimes committed even outside their territory. The direction of France is particularly important because Bidzina Ivanishvili is a French citizen. We are beginning very active communication with French investigative bodies, including the prosecutor’s office, so that an investigation against Ivanishvili is launched at the national level regarding systemic torture and the alleged use of chemical agents.

Fourth, there is the International Criminal Court. After the prosecutor’s office of the Hague Court launched an investigation against Alexander Lukashenko and his regime, it is entirely realistic that the same could happen in the case of the Ivanishvili regime. We will do everything to ensure that Ivanishvili ends up the same way many other autocrats and bloody dictators have - on the defendant’s bench at The Hague Tribunal,” Lemonjava said.