For Georgia’s Sharashidze: Only our party challenges Samachablo annexation; GD fears state-minded rivals

“In the type of autocracy created by Georgian Dream, this step was certainly not unexpected for our political team, as it indicates that even the sole remaining parliamentary opposition party is unacceptable to them,” stated MP Giorgi Sharashidze, a member of the opposition party For Georgia.

According to Sharashidze, Georgian Dream cannot tolerate a state-minded political opponent.

“In the type of autocracy created by Georgian Dream, this step was certainly not unexpected for our political team. It indicates that even the sole parliamentary opposition party is unacceptable to them. If Georgian Dream believes this decision will silence our sharp critiques, force us to drop critical questions, or stop us from voicing the concerns of tens of thousands of Georgians, they are gravely mistaken. It will neither halt us nor dull our impact. On the contrary, we will fight against Georgian Dream with even greater resolve after this decision, and they know this full well.

Why now, why today? I want to remind you that, with rare exceptions, we were the only political force that spoke out loudly and actively about the ongoing annexationist processes in Samachablo [South Ossetia], a historic territory of Georgia. Today is 15 September, and so-called elections are scheduled for 18 September, in which a direct representative of Putin, a high-ranking official dispatched from the Kremlin, will in all likelihood prevail. This means Russia is now formally annexing our historic territory. Our team speaks openly about this and demands that Parliament adopt a relevant resolution; this explains the timing.

Georgian Dream has chosen a path of criminal and treasonous silence on this matter. They cannot tolerate a political team with a state-minded approach like ours because they know we are the only political force raising the issue that this occupation requires an appropriate political response. We are the only team that began addressing our citizens’ social problems: starting with the minimum wage, pensions, and other initiatives. We have had numerous fierce clashes with Georgian Dream on these matters. If they think they will stop us or force us to back down, they are mistaken. If you listen to the statements made by Georgian Dream representatives, you can see for yourselves that they are thoroughly confused and do not know how to justify this decision, as what they say is so illogical that they struggle to explain it themselves,” stated Sharashidze.

Asked if For Georgia would boycott parliament, Sharashidze insisted the party has no intention of halting its legislative work.

“It may well be that Georgian Dream would love for us to cease parliamentary activity in some form, whether through a boycott or otherwise, but they will not get their way. That may be their wish, their dream, but it is not the wish or the dream of the Georgian people,” noted Sharashidze.

For context, the ruling Georgian Dream party intends to file a Constitutional Court lawsuit seeking a ban on the opposition party For Georgia, led by former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia. Georgian Dream has already filed a constitutional claim seeking to declare the activities of the United National Movement, the Coalition for Change, Strong Georgia – Lelo, and the Federalists unconstitutional and banned.