Baku, January 9, AZERTAC

Mamuka Mdinaradze, the Executive Secretary of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Thursday said a temporary investigative commission would be formed in the Georgian Parliament to investigate activities of the former United National Movement “regime” and its Government officials between 2003 and 2012, Agenda.ge reported.

In his remarks over the matter, Mdinaradze noted the commission would work over six months to prepare a report that the Parliament would consider and approve in September.

“The conclusion approved by the Parliament will be forwarded to the Prosecutor's Office of Georgia and other relevant bodies in accordance with Georgian legislation for the purpose of taking further measures and ensuring punishment of perpetrators [of alleged violations]”, the ruling party official said.

“The main systemic crimes committed by the regime between 2003 and 2012 are widely known. These include torture of prisoners and the system of torture in penitentiary institutions, murder, violence, invasion of privacy, corruption and pressure on businesses to cede assets and extort money, appropriation of media outlets from their rightful owners, admission of [Georgia] starting the 2008 war [with Russia] and blaming the Georgian military for war crimes [in the conflict]”, he claimed.

Mdinaradze further added findings of the investigative commission would involve recommendations on “political and legal response measures” against perpetrators, as provided for by the Constitution.

He also stressed the investigation into the 2008 war would not target military commanders and service members.