New Georgian Constitution adopted in spite of opposition’s protests

117 Georgian MPs have voted for the draft amendments to the country's Constitution in the third and final reading; two MPs voted against.

The oppositional MPs from the "United National Movement" (UNM) and "European Georgia" Parties appeared at the session, but left the hall in protest prior to the voting. They stated that the “Georgian Dream”, the ruling party, was adopting the draft, which does not allow changing power through elections.

"By this constitutional process, you have confirmed that you are alone in it – you have no allies... You are really legalizing the dictatorship and clannish constitution," said Nika Meliya, an UNM’s MP, adding that consent to the draft Constitution was achieved only within the ruling party.

In parallel with the consideration of the draft, an action was held near the parliament building in Kutaisi under the slogan "No to one-party Constitution!" It was organized by both parliamentary and non-parliamentary opposition parties. "What happens in the parliament is shameful; it will be the Constitution that contradicts country’s interests and hinders its development," Bachuki Kardava, the leader of the National Democratic Party, said during the action, the “Sputnik-Georgia” reports.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.