I did not like and was not pleased with Salome Zurabishvili’s statements, which had a somewhat speculative nature. We must approach every statement with great responsibility now so that the regime does not use it to fuel discord within the opposition and the protest community, stated Tina Bokuchava, the chair of the “United National Movement.”
According to Bokuchava, without unity, Bidzina Ivanishvili will always win, and the opposition will always be fragmented.
“There were different expectations among the rally organizers and others. The organizer of the rally was and is the civic movement ‘Rustaveli Avenue,’ which has its members and leader. We, the ‘United National Movement,’ through an official statement from the political council, naturally joined and continue to join, supported and continue to support the protest, because our main goal was to prevent the Russian special operation that Bidzina Ivanishvili calls elections, to ensure it does not succeed, and to have many people stand here on Rustaveli Avenue.
I must be honest: this rally had specific organizers who had a specific plan. Our main task was and is, in this regard, largely fulfilled – having a large number of people come out to Rustaveli, which we emphasized.
Now the regime wants not only to accuse specific individuals of a state coup and arrest them but also to pit others who call themselves opposition against them and even gain applause from some.
I did not like and was not pleased with Salome Zurabishvili’s statements, which had a speculative nature. We must approach every statement with great responsibility now so that the regime does not use it to fuel discord within the opposition and the protest community. The regime will try to do this now, believe me. She distanced herself from the process today… How easy it is, excuse me, for me to come out and distance myself from the process and say I didn’t know what Paata Burchuladze was planning, or that he supposedly had no plan… Is this what opposition leaders should do today? We all share some degree of responsibility, those of us standing here today, but we also have responsibility for the main goal, and I personally take responsibility for what I have always said – you won’t find a single statement of mine saying we start on the 4th and finish on the 4th, but I always said we should come out in large numbers and not legitimize the Russian special operation that Ivanishvili calls elections.
Nothing ends today, but it will end if we turn against each other, if we devour each other – in that case, it will definitely end. Neither Salome Zurabishvili nor anyone else should speak to us now with a sense of triumph. We must unite; without unity, Ivanishvili will always win, and the opposition will always be fragmented,” stated Tina Bokuchava.
Tina Bokuchava: I did not like and was not pleased with Salome Zurabishvili’s statements, which had a speculative nature and distanced herself from the process today – nothing ends today, but it will end if we turn against and devour each other
