“Giorgi Gakharia’s stance is understandable. He is clinging to his MP mandate in a bid to retain his seat in Parliament, but the moment of truth will arrive in a few months,” stated Petre Tsiskarishvili, General Secretary of the Unity-National Movement.

According to Tsiskarishvili, Georgian society will soon see whether Gakharia aligns with the opposition or seeks to “justify the illegitimate government of the Georgian Dream party.”

“During this spring session, they will either enter Parliament, thereby granting some legitimacy to the institution, and sit in the hall alongside those whom nobody wishes to associate with in PACE, or the Georgian Dream will be compelled to expel them due to their absence rather than based on their written applications.

This moment of truth will arrive in April or May. We will discover whether they stand with the people and the opposition, join the spirit of resistance seen on Rustaveli Avenue, or choose to defend the illegitimate government of the Georgian Dream,” he remarked.

On February 5, the Georgian Parliament prematurely terminated the mandates of 49 members from three opposition alliances: the Coalition for Change, featuring Gvaramia, Melia, and Girchi; Strong Georgia, comprising Lelo for People for Freedom; and the Unity-National Movement.

The party Gakharia for Georgia has refused to enter Parliament. However, they have not officially submitted a statement nor appealed to Parliament to request the termination of their mandates.