For Georgia’s MP Kereselidze: Georgians stay silent because they fear punishment under a government that rules “by dictatorial methods”

“We took no part in the rally, neither in planning it nor in organising it. I don’t know how many people were there, but there were certainly far more than 300,” said MP Shalva Kereselidze, chair of the For Georgia parliamentary faction.

Kereselidze said people stay silent because the government has intimidated them.

“Some are employed, some have a small business, some have other livelihoods, and they know that if they speak up and express a different opinion, they will be punished. That is why people stay silent, even though most of the population is unhappy with the government. Do you know where the logic lies? The government is running the country by dictatorial methods,” Kereselidze said.