Mikheil Saakashvili: People in Georgia are afraid to tell truth in opinion polls

“Before I was captured, I met in Kyiv with the regional director of IPSOS, the largest European public opinion research company. He told me that conducting public opinion research in Georgia is extremely difficult because people are just as afraid as they are in Russian-occupied Crimea and Donetsk, and that asking direct questions is pointless — the real sentiments have to be determined through indirect questions,” former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili wrote on social media.

According to Saakashvili, people are afraid to tell the truth in opinion polls.

“This was the reality before the mass repression, before people were imprisoned and terror was unleashed in the streets. And you can imagine how afraid people are now to tell the truth in polls. Of the 46% who refused to answer, how many are actually on the side of the same United National Movement? And among those who said they would vote for Georgian Dream, how many have family members working in an LEPL or a non-commercial legal entity, or how many are simply afraid to tell the truth?” Saakashvili wrote.

“And finally, look around you. How many people around you are still supporters of the Georgian Dream? So stop lamenting and fretting, and think about how long it would take me to finish them if I were walking freely in Georgia,” he added.