
“One of the original ideas was to create a large UNM coalition. The president and others were advocating for this initiative. However, it did not materialize in time, and I believe it has now become evident that there is no significant difference between these four parties. As a result, a large UNM coalition has emerged naturally,” Iago Khvichia, one of the leaders of the Girchi party, stated on the GPB First Channel program “Current Topic with Maka Tsintsadze.”
“In general, this new configuration will take shape, and if we are to call things by their proper names, it is correct for these individuals to be grouped. However, I think our primary issue lies elsewhere. Who are the individuals standing there? Aside from our voters, they are primarily opposition voters, correct? I believe they voted for one of these four parties that make up the UNM coalition. They simply refuse to admit it out of embarrassment for having elected these four parties. “Chergo” (Tamar Chergoleishvili) was right; their election was a disgrace, much like the election of the Georgian Dream, which ultimately led to this current configuration,” Khvichia stated.
In response to the host’s question about the extent to which participants in the rally are supporters of the opposition parties—who are also demanding new elections and consider certain factions categorically unacceptable—Iago Khvichia addressed the implications of Salome Zourabichvili’s statement that new parties need to be formed. Does this suggest that the existing opposition parties have failed to meet her expectations and hopes?
Iago Khvichia criticized the representatives of the UNM coalition, calling them “idiots.”
“Let me explain why,” he said. “Their self-proclaimed vocalness and socialism have become obsolete. They are pinning their hopes on Trump, who comes from a different world. When he took office, the first thing he did was to open Facebook for dissent. The UNM still tries to maintain control over the media by inertia; they impose censorship and stifle dissenting voices. How can you criticize any other media outlet when you only permit your own to operate?
These ‘idiots’ remain entrenched in outdated views while the world evolves—Facebook is becoming more open globally, yet they continue to degenerate, even worse now that they are out of power and in need of public support. I observe this madness alongside the behaviour of our judges. People are being imprisoned and assaulted. While I may be critical of many on both sides, consider that if a quarter, half, or even a third of our country is ‘degenerated,’ does it really make sense to intimidate them with imprisonment? This kind of governance is not the path to Europe. Is this truly what we want?” Khvichia remarked.
Khvichia also raised an important question: if people attacked a judge yesterday and today the same judge is presiding over cases, how normal is this situation?
“How can it be considered normal to have a centralized system of governance where someone assaults you, and the very next morning, those individuals are simply thrown into prison by force? Is it even possible to administer justice in this country in a manner where a judge would regard a mere slap on the wrist towards a journalist as a punishable offence under the Criminal Code? I find it rather absurd that we do not recognise that throwing a bottle at someone in such charged circumstances warrants serious consideration. Should a person really face imprisonment for throwing a bottle, especially when emotions are running high, rallies are taking place, and people are generally in a contentious mood?” Khvichia stated.
In response to Maka Tsintsadze’s question regarding the court’s decision-making process, Iago Khvichia emphasized that the court makes its rulings based on the evidence presented by the prosecutor’s office. He suggested that if the opponents were sitting in the studio, they would need to consider how other countries react to actions such as slapping a police officer, throwing fireworks at them, or disobeying their authority and that these actions would likely lead to severe consequences elsewhere. However, Khvichia asserted that invoking examples from other countries lacks substantive relevance in the debate.
As Khvichia remarked, he has a grievance regarding leaders who urged the public to come forward and confront them.
“They called out, ‘Come on, people, come and get us; we are here,’ yet they themselves are hiding. Not a single political leader is currently imprisoned unless already incarcerated. The people who are in prison today are there as a result of these calls, while those leaders have simply vanished, disappearing without a trace. Moreover, this act of disappearing and hiding seems to be regarded as a virtue. This is what concerns me,” stated Iago Khvichia.
By - Svetlana Alimova