For Georgia’s MP Sharashidze: We have no connection with those planning May 26 rally, it could be attempt at new October 4

“Whether or not there is discord within the alliance is their own affair. We have no particular interest in that process. This is simply the former United National Movement, splintered into several new parties. We have no interest in tracking when the United National Movement reunites and when it falls apart again,” declared MP Giorgi Sharashidze, member of the Gakharia for Georgia party.

Regarding the rally announced by the so-called Opposition Alliance for May 26, Sharashidze said he has no connection with the organisers.

“We have no connection whatsoever with those who are planning some sort of demonstration on May 26. For us, May 26 is Georgia’s Independence Day, a day we have always marked together with the Georgian people. This year shall be no different. Any attempt to inject confrontation into these celebrations is wholly unacceptable, all the more so coming from the very people who were the architects of the utterly irresponsible provocation of October 4. People have always come out onto Rustaveli on May 26. It is deeply disagreeable to divide and categorise that crowd, to suggest that some came out at the summons of one particular politician, whilst others came to mark Georgian independence. Does it give you pleasure to divide people based on why they took to the streets on May 26?

They could have chosen any other date. What matters to us is not the hour at which they hold their rally, but the fact that these are the very authors and participants of the irresponsible provocation of October 4, some willingly, others unwittingly. They themselves have yet to give any honest account of what actually happened on October 4, and the announcement of new dates is, naturally, thoroughly irresponsible. This may well be an attempt at a new October 4. We have nothing in common with these people.

In general, numbers matter. Let us first see what they actually do, whether they are capable of organising a protest of sufficient scale to play any meaningful, transformative role in the political process, and then we can talk. I would advise no one to make a noise in advance. What matters to us is that May 26 remains a day of unity, a day of Georgian independence, and that no additional discord is sown among the people. The very act of announcing dates creates the conditions for false expectations. In that respect, it is undeniably reminiscent of October 4. To my mind, it bears all the hallmarks of October 4.

It is very much their problem if these people have still not learnt their lesson. Was Saakashvili not directly involved in the October 4 events? We remember his calls. I would urge them all to come to their senses. Let no one become a source of provocation and division within society; let everyone bear responsibility for their own actions. Let them first take responsibility for October 4, and only then speak of new dates,” stated Giorgi Sharashidze.