“If it weren’t for Rustaveli Avenue, there would be zero reaction from abroad. Rustaveli Avenue is a symbol that publicly demonstrates to the world that the Georgian people are dissatisfied with the current situation in Georgia,” said Paata Burchuladze, Georgian operatic bass and leader of the union “Rustaveli Avenue,” during the GPB First Channel’s program Topic of the Day.

“People who spontaneously come out are not gathering on Rustaveli Avenue. We all understand that, without Rustaveli Avenue, there would be no international response, and the situation in the country would be dire. Rustaveli Avenue is the sole venue through which the Georgian people convey to the world their dissatisfaction with the current situation in Georgia. Therefore, this movement cannot be stopped. It has been nearly 200 days, and we are confident that we will achieve our goal,” Burchuladze stated.

Burchuladze emphasized that any political party participating in the local elections would betray ‘Rustaveli Avenue.’

“If any party takes part in the local elections, it will betray us, Rustaveli Avenue, as well as the prisoners of conscience and political prisoners. It would be a betrayal,” he asserted.

When the program host inquired about the significance of the national congress he announced, Burchuladze emphasized that it is a crucial event that must occur and assured everyone of their unwavering commitment to organizing it.

“The National Congress signifies the need to establish a third republic. The first was from 1918 to 1921, the second in 1991, and now, in 2025, we face another pivotal moment. Our so-called government has stepped outside its constitutional bounds, and it’s time to restore justice. This can only be achieved by uniting the people. We must adhere not to the laws enacted by this illegitimate government but to the Constitution. What does the Constitution say? The source of power is the people. In the fall, we plan to gather delegates in Tbilisi to deliberate and decide that we want new parliamentary elections. These elections will undoubtedly happen. First, a plebiscite will be held to determine if we want them; the plebiscite will likely confirm our desire, and then, in November, elections will be conducted,” Burchuladze explained.

He reaffirmed that Salome Zourabichvili remains their only legitimate representative.

“She is our president. I have always called her that; I have never questioned her legitimacy. She is the legitimate president today. My intention was not to unite political parties into one force to oppose Bidzina Ivanishvili’s government but rather to unite around a shared idea—that we should come together, regardless of party labels such as UNM, Lelo, or others. I personally approached various leaders, including Gakharia, to discuss this. I told them, let’s forget about political differences—since you are politicians—and unite around a common goal: to remove this harmful government,” Burchuladze stated.

Regarding host Tamta Sanikidze’s question about conducting elections via a mobile application, Burchuladze noted that his initial proposal faced significant backlash.

“When I first mentioned this, there was quite a stir—people questioned how such a thing could be feasible. But, gentlemen, in an era when humans are landing on the moon and billions are transferred between banks through mobile phones, trusting digital systems, what is holding us back? Many countries around the world are already implementing this technology, and we will have it soon,” he concluded.