Berdia Sichinava, a leader of the “Gakharia for Georgia” party, stated on PalitraNews’ program “Free Studio” that those urging people not to vote in the elections are not taking responsibility for what might happen on October 5, leaving the public disappointed once again.
According to Sichinava, certain political forces are avoiding responsibility for the events planned for October 4, and “it is unacceptable to place the burden of responsibility on a single singer or the population.”
“They say, ‘What does the National Movement have to do with it?’ They claim about one of their members, ‘We’re not responsible for his statements.’ If these people take no responsibility for anything, are they shifting it onto the public? If, God forbid, something happens on October 4 that unfolds in a way that could jeopardize our statehood for a long time and even our country’s European future, will anyone take responsibility for that? Or for the public’s disappointment? People are already disappointed and angry, including with us. I take my share of responsibility for all this. We must have done something wrong politically, and we didn’t fully utilize our resources to show people where the ‘Georgian Dream’ is leading this country.
Today, we face a situation where the other side tells us, ‘You’re responsible; if you gather, this is how it will be.’ I don’t see specific forces or individuals taking responsibility. You can’t pin the blame on one singer and the rest of the population. They say their political party has nothing to do with it, yet they call on citizens to take to the streets with their families. How is that possible when we know the brutal methods the riot police, who were beating people three or four months ago, might use? Our party will not participate in a process where baseless calls for ‘peaceful overthrow’ are made without a plan,” Sichinava declared.
Sichinava emphasized that voting has always been considered a matter of statehood in Georgia, but “for some reason, part of the opposition has turned this upside down.”
He further stated that the goal of the protest is not to change the government but to disrupt the elections.
“Why was the rally specifically announced for October 4? Have you seen the posters—‘Don’t go to the elections, come to Rustaveli’? This so-called protest, which I wouldn’t even call a protest but a managed process with an unclear agenda, is directly aimed at the elections and the people who want to make a choice. The goal of this protest is not to change the government but to sabotage the elections. Why wasn’t it held on October 3 or 5, for example? This entire process is targeted against the elections and the parties participating in them,” Sichinava said.
Commenting on the arrest of Zviad Kuprava, a member of the National Movement, for calling for the overthrow of the government, Sichinava noted: “The National Movement itself distanced itself from Zviad Kuprava and disavowed him three times before the rooster crowed.”
Berdia Sichinava: The goal of the October 4 protest is not to change the Government, but to disrupt the elections
