30 October 2010, 15:00
Georgian Parliament adopts "Freedom Charter" in first hearing
The legislative initiative submitted by Giya Tortladze, a minority MP, was adopted by the Georgian Parliament by 75:1 vote in the first hearing. The "Freedom Charter" deals with strengthening of security measures and contains provisions on lustration and liquidation of Soviet and Nazi symbols.
The "Freedom Charter" assumes making a registry of objects, where Soviet symbols are used: buildings, monuments, street names, and making decisions about eliminating them. The owners of each building will have to pay by their own for removal of symbols, should such decision be made, the "Gazeta.Ru" writes.
Russian communists have already raised voices against Tortladze's initiative. "With respect to the veterans who served for Georgia for many years, it is, frankly speaking, a boorish act," the "Interfax" quotes Ivan Melnikov, First Deputy Chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF).
The "Freedom Charter" has opponents in Georgia itself. In the parliament, it was opposed by the MP from the opposition party "Kartuli Dasi" Jondi Baghaturiya. "Before the Bolshevik Russia Georgia was attacked by Ottomans; and what, should we now destroy mosques? The hammer and sickle did nothing bad to Georgians, but certain persons did," he said.
