“Regarding entering Parliament, as you know, we have made a decision. Next week is a session week and we came here on technical matters,” stated Shalva Kereselidze, a member of Gakharia for Georgia party, following a meeting with Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili.

When asked, “Is Parliament legitimate or not?”, Kereselidze noted that this no longer matters.

“It is unfortunate that we will be the only opposition in this Parliament. It no longer matters whether Parliament is legitimate or not. The fact is evident, Georgian Dream rules the government, passes laws and decisions in Parliament, in the government, and in the courts. People can call it what they like.

I call it such that we do not grant legitimacy to this Parliament, but this does not mean we will not do work, will not work for the country and the people. This is precisely why we took this decision, and not for personal or party interests. This was a difficult decision, and we were ready to take it solely for the interests of the people and the country.

I have repeatedly stated that whether Parliament is deemed legitimate or not no longer holds significant importance. We do not recognise the legitimacy of this Parliament, but that does not mean we will abstain from engaging altogether, as political processes have effectively come to a halt. Regardless of this deadlock, we will actively participate, guided by the interests of the people and the nation. We intend to be a productive opposition, which will be demonstrated through our involvement in addressing the pressing issues facing the country. There will at least be one opposition voice, a different voice, in Parliament.

The United National Movement incorrectly assesses many things and acts incorrectly in terms of the country’s interests. Among these was the declaration of a boycott of the 2025 local government elections. October 4 was the foundation for what is happening in the country, because the country has experienced coups, revolutions and the overthrow of governments, and experienced them bitterly. Such a form of change of government is categorically unacceptable. We support only the democratic path of changing government. This is how it will happen,” stated Shalva Kereselidze.

The Gakharia for Georgia party has decided to enter Parliament. Shalva Kereselidze is among the 12 members of Gakharia’s party who will take the parliamentary seats. Shalva Kereselidze met with the Speaker of Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, to discuss ending the party’s parliamentary boycott and the technical issues related to this decision.