Georgian PM prefers not to touch on topic of suing Saakashvili's party for causing war

TBILISI. March 14 (Interfax) - The topic of potentially prosecuting the former Georgian ruling party, the United National Movement, and its leader, the country's former president Mikheil Saakashvili, over the August 2008 war, should be left aside until after parliamentary elections this October, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said.

"I would not touch on it [this topic] before the upcoming parliamentary elections in October. The people of Georgia already delivered their verdict on this political force, including for the chief crime it committed in August 2008. Ultimately, [this is] for parliament to decide, and we will see how proceedings go. I would prefer it if on election day our people deliver one more verdict on the United National Movement," Kobakhidze said when making comments to journalists regarding a proposal by the People's Power parliamentary group to open a criminal case against Saakashvili and his party.

Speaking at a press conference earlier on Thursday, People's Power MPs said they had proposed launching a criminal case against the now jailed Saakashvili and his party on charges of causing the August 2008 war should President Salome Zourabichvili use her powers to pardon the ex-president.