At its current session, the Parliamentary Iterim Fact-Finding Commission, tasked with examining the activities of the ruling regime from 2003 to 2012 and of current and former public officials affiliated with that regime since 2003, heard testimony from Giorgi Gakharia.

Giorgi Gakharia provided the Commission with explanations concerning his actions and decisions during his tenure as Georgia’s Minister of Internal Affairs and later as Prime Minister, including those related to the events of 20 June 2019.

According to Gakharia, the order to disperse the aggressive protest that escalated into an attempted storming of the Parliament building on 20 June was issued by him.

He stated that he only authorized the use of tear gas and water cannons and did not issue any order for the use of other special means, including rubber bullets.

When asked whether another official had given the order to use rubber bullets, Gakharia replied that he was unaware of any such directive.

He noted that once it became clear that rubber bullets had been used, he ordered that law enforcement officers were permitted to use them only in cases where their own or citizens’ lives were in direct danger, in accordance with the Law on Police.

Gakharia further explained that police used rubber bullets in the context of "self-defence", although there were incidents of misconduct, which were later subject to investigation. The Commission posed questions regarding the planning and execution of the operation to disperse the protest on 20 June.

He acknowledged that the operation was not executed flawlessly and that there were shortcomings. Gakharia accepted political responsibility for all that happened on 20 June, while stressing that legal accountability is a matter for the investigation.

The Commission members also questioned Gakharia about the establishment of a police checkpoint in the village of Chorchana, in the municipality of Khashuri, during his term as Minister of Internal Affairs.

Gakharia explained that the purpose of the new outpost was to prevent any precedent that would allow “fake” maps to be used as a legal basis for expanding the occupation line.

He noted that this action had been coordinated with international organizations operating on the ground and involved cooperation between several ministries.

According to Commission members, the checkpoint was opened in violation of procedures agreed upon in 2008 and disregarded the opposition of the State Security Service. As a result, five outposts were established by separatist forces in areas previously under Georgian jurisdiction, and the occupation line advanced by approximately 1.5 kilometres.

Gakharia also addressed his resignation from the post of Prime Minister.

He discussed internal deliberations within the parliamentary majority on the lifting of parliamentary immunity and arrest of MP Nikanor Melia.

He emphasized that after Melia’s immunity was lifted by Parliament, any decision to arrest him should have avoided triggering the issue of amnesty.

He further clarified that no foreign ambassadors had intervened in the decision-making process—a point disputed by some members of the Commission.

The next session of the Commission is scheduled for 15 April.