There are two most legitimate places for a Georgian person: a prison or a street. These gatherings preserve the possibility of ending the dictatorship in the country, – Gedevan Popkhadze, a member of the Coalition for Change, said at Republic Square, where the protest march “Until the end, until victory!” is underway in the direction of Rustaveli Avenue.
As Popkhadze noted, they are on the right side of history.
“The de facto regime has created such a political situation that a person must either be on the streets and protest this reality, or be in prison. There is no third adequate behavior based on this situation. Therefore, as many times as necessary, we must gather, state that we will not accept this regime, we will not accept their principles and standards. We are standing on the path of our ancestors, who fought for Europe.
King Mirian did this when he converted to Christianity, David the Builder did this when he fought on Didgori.
Kote Abkhazi and Ilia Chavchavadze are fighting with us, Pilipe Makharadze and Budu Mdivani are standing with them [the Georgian Dream]. We are on the right side of history. We have nothing to hide in our beliefs and positions. In whatever form the activism is necessary, it must be carried out. There are two places that are most legitimate for a Georgian person: either prison or the street,” Popkhadze noted.
As Popkhadze explained, the methods of struggle may become more diverse, “but the old way cannot be abandoned either.”
“We should continue to do what we are doing, but based on the reality, we should use adequate forms. The reality is that there are mass repressions, there are many political prisoners. Of course, new forms of protest may be invented, but we must agree that the resources of political and legal struggle have not yet been exhausted. After all, we are not facing an armed uprising. We must make the most of the opportunity, the space that foreign partners are creating for us, we can still stand on the streets and fight. No blood has been shed, there can still be a peaceful, democratic change of this regime, but if the regime becomes too stubborn and wants to turn into an evil regime, evil regimes historically end very badly,” Popkhadze notes.
Gedevan Popkhadze: The resources of the political-legal struggle have not yet been exhausted and we are not facing an armed uprising – if the regime hardens and wants to turn evil, evil regimes end very badly
