Gakharia’s Kekenadze: GD’s Parliament still lacks our legitimacy, but we acknowledge they hold real power

A member of the Gakharia for Georgia party, Tamar Kekenadze, has stated that the parliamentary boycott was a mistake.

According to her, the actions of the United National Movement and associated irresponsible politicians have strengthened Georgian Dream’s grip on power, and October 4 cannot be omitted until they explain what happened that day.

“We still do not provide legitimacy to the Georgian Dream regime’s parliament today, but despite this, we acknowledge that Georgian Dream, unfortunately, holds real power at present. We have also stated very clearly that we recognise the parliamentary boycott was a mistake. It is precisely the actions resulting from this mistake, which I have observed over the past year, that led to October 4, when the United National Movement and associated irresponsible politicians damaged a peaceful protest in Georgia.

To this day, they call on us to turn the October 4 page. How can we possibly turn that page when we don’t know what happened? This was an attempt to completely damage state interests. As a result of this attempt, peaceful protest is now discredited. As a result of the October 4 so-called peaceful provocation, we have many people, dozens of victims, who are now in prison. We shall have to observe the consequences of the October 4 peaceful protest provocation for a very long time. We see very clearly what the Georgian Dream’s regime is doing, how its power has been strengthened as a result of such irresponsible actions.

If we want to save this country, we no longer have the right to leave Georgian Dream any space to remain alone with Georgian citizens. Therefore, we have resolved to utilise every available political platform, whether in parliament or municipal councils; we will make use of every mandate and do our utmost to weaken Georgian Dream. To this end, we shall employ every peaceful method,” Tamar Kekenadze stated.

“Georgia’s citizens must be told what happened, what was attempted on October 4,” Tamar Kekenadze went on to say.

According to Kekenadze, until the irresponsible politicians, the United National Movement and associated individuals explain what happened on October 4, their statements will have no significance whatsoever.

“It makes no difference to us whatsoever what statements and assessments these irresponsible people make. If they have any sense of responsibility remaining, they should first explain to Georgia’s citizens what happened and what was attempted on October 4.

We knew what would happen and what the result would be. We warned Georgia’s citizens that all of this, the boycott and including the announced coups, would only strengthen Georgian Dream’s regime, and that is exactly what happened.

Therefore, until these irresponsible politicians, the United National Movement, associated individuals, including the former president Salome Zourabichvili, and those non-governmental organisations who urged people not to turn out for the elections, reveal and take political responsibility and explain what happened on October 4, their statements will have no significance for us whatsoever,” Tamar Kekenadze noted.