TBILISI, December 21 (RIA Novosti) - The Georgian parliamentary speaker on Friday asked supporters of President Mikheil Saakashvili, who walked out of parliament in protest on Wednesday, to resume their legislative work.
The majority-turned-minority United National Movement faction announced on December 19 that it would suspend its work in parliament to protest the arrests of former ministers and state officials, including former finance and energy minister Aleksandre Khetaguri and ex-justice and education minister Nika Gvaramia.
"I call on the minority to join the emergency parliament session next week and to resume their work as per usual,” Parliamentary Chairman Davit Usupashvili said opening Friday’s parliament session.
The ruling Georgian Dream coalition swept the October 1 parliamentary elections in Georgia, riding to victory on an anti-Sakaashvili platform. A number of inquiries against high-ranking Saakashvili supporters were launched shortly after.
