Calls for mass protest rallies against the arrest of ex-Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili were challenged by opposition New Rights Party, which said that it would not participate.

“Some opposition parties are now talking about overthrowing the Saakashvili administration and are calling on us to do it under the banner of Saakashvili’s ex-ally – Okruashvili,” MP Davit Gamkrelidze, the leader of the New Rights Party, said.

“We will not take part in this,” he said. “What will change for the country if Saakashvili’s mafia is replaced by Okruashvili’s mafia? Will [Okruashvili] build a liberal democracy? Of course not.”

“I did not take part in the coup against [late President Zviad] Gamsakhurdia [in the early 90s]; neither did I take part in the ouster of Shevardnadze’s regime and I am not now going to come into power this way either. We should change power only through elections,” Gamkrelidze said.

Some opposition parties have already signalled their readiness to join the protest rally planned for outside Parliament on September 28 at 2 pm local time.