People’s Power’s Macharashvili: Sabotage against country must be punishable

“I am confident that in six months, we will receive a conclusion that could easily be described as mirroring the verdict of the Nuremberg trials,” stated Guram Macharashvili, the People’s Power Executive Secretary, during his appearance on the GPB First Channel program “Actual Topic with Maka Tsintsadze.”

“We understand well that if the Nuremberg trials had not occurred in Germany, the National Socialist Party would still be operating there today, as no legal prohibition would exist against it. This is precisely why the collective United National Movement continues to exist in Georgian politics.

While we often discuss this, and many of their leaders have even served prison sentences—understandably—until the relevant authority determines that this political group is anti-constitutional, anti-state, and should not exist, they will always retain the right to impose their narrative on society and consistently destabilize the nation. The purpose of the investigative commission is to legally terminate this once and for all, based on substantiated evidence, so that the collective United National Movement ceases to exist in Georgian politics,” Macharashvili declared.

According to him, the commission will not investigate military commanders or soldiers concerning the 2008 Russia-Georgia war.

“It is clear, as has been stated, and it doesn’t need to be repeated constantly, that this does not concern the military. Those individuals fought for their country, and this is unequivocal. Concerning others—politicians or non-politicians—who have committed crimes and for whom evidence exists, naturally, questions of individual responsibility will arise,” Macharashvili stated.

Macharashvili noted that today, representatives of the collective United National Movement claim to abhor Russia, asserting that one of their general policies is anti-Russian propaganda. However, he pointed out that if “we examine videos from just a few years ago, we can see them praising Russian investments in Georgia, welcoming Russian tourists with wine in hand, and engaging in cultural exchanges, all during the period following 2008.” He emphasized that society expected that, in a law-abiding state, traitors and spies—individuals who prioritize foreign interests over their own country’s—cannot exist without facing accountability.

“And then they come out and express pride in their actions. We have heard numerous statements from pseudo-politicians on television calling upon the United States, ‘Come here, protect your interests in this region.’ How can you invite another state—regardless of how much of a partner it is—to safeguard its interests within your own country? Meanwhile, we have repeatedly witnessed signs of sabotage here, explicit calls for attacks on state institutions, and calls for strikes aimed solely at causing economic collapse and destabilization. Yet, they are failing to achieve their goals. ‘I want to block the road,’ they say. But why do you wish to block the road? Roadblocks are not permitted unless naturally demanded by the number of participants. When you gather 200-300 people and try to obstruct a road designed for 10,000, this is, of course, not permissible,” Macharashvili asserted.

In response to Maka Tsintsadze’s question about whether he expects specific individuals to be held accountable within the framework of the prosecutor’s investigation—considering that opposition claim the government and prosecution will use this for political persecution and to discredit them—Guram Macharashvili countered with a question: “What does being discredited mean? Did someone not commit an offence and is being falsely accused?”

“If that were the case, they would be the first to rush to you, asserting that they are being falsely accused and demanding evidence. Video material and numerous testimonies are in place, and charges are filed solely based on this. Therefore, if someone organizes sabotage—and we see evidence of this—naturally, everyone must be held accountable. This is a crucial process. Sabotage against the nation must be punishable, and all must face accountability,” Macharashvili asserted.

He also stated that the Georgian government has never experienced—and will never experience—issues with the United States, particularly with its society.

“We had a problem with the U.S. administration under Biden, and it has become apparent that we are not the only ones facing challenges with Biden and his administration; American society itself has issues. Just look at what President Trump, elected by American citizens, did to the Biden administration personnel,” Macharashvili commented.

Macharashvili further emphasized that the collective United National Movement is no longer represented in parliament, except for 12 individuals. They no longer receive foreign funding, nor state funding as they are not in parliament, and the majority of their supporters have abandoned them.

“Their only remaining resources, God bless them, are Zourabichvili and Wilson—a foreign diplomat who profits from everything, buying inauguration tickets cheaply and selling them at a premium, then taking Georgian pseudo-politicians around. Consequently, Wilson profits from this arrangement, while the local collective United National Movement hopes Wilson will assist them from afar and bring them back to power,” Macharashvili concluded.