Gakharia’s Sichinava: Election participation does not contradict protest, regardless of UNM’s statements

“It is not important what statements the United National Movement (UNM) will make or what boycott campaign it will engage in; we do not believe that participation in the elections contradicts the protest,” stated Berdia Sichinava, Executive Secretary of the Gakharia for Georgia party.

Sichinava commented on the criticism from the United National Movement regarding their party’s involvement in the local government elections.

“The remarks from representatives of the United National Movement are entirely irrelevant to our political party. We have never based our decisions on emotional reactions or impulsive choices. Politics is an arena where issues are resolved with a clear and rational mind; therefore, we always prioritise pragmatic cooperation. It doesn’t matter what statements the United National Movement issues, whether they threaten to engage in boycott campaigns, or even if they, like the Georgian Dream, deploy groups of Titushki to disrupt the elections. We refuse to enter into a mode of retaliation with these political parties because we do not believe that participating in elections in any way contradicts the protest. On the contrary, if the protest needs anything today, it is to be expanded and intensified,” Berdia Sichinava emphasised.

The Gakharia for Georgia party and Lelo-Strong Georgia coalition signed a memorandum of cooperation for the October 4 elections.