“I haven’t disappeared anywhere. I know exactly that at this moment, I got off at the right, truthful stop. At this time and in this space, I did not agree to enter Parliament and, accordingly, to use the deputy mandate. This decision was humanly the most difficult,” said Rusudan Tevzadze, former member of the “Gakharia – For Georgia” party, during her appearance on PalitraNews program “Day’s Newsroom,” explaining the reasons why she refused to use the parliamentary deputy mandate and why she left the party.
As Rusudan Tevzadze noted, she recognizes Parliament as an institution but does not recognize the “so-called government’s so-called political figures.”
“There are no former colleagues or former friends. If my colleagues and friends need any qualitative or substantive help, I am ready for that. I wish them success; they are now in Parliament. If their chosen path is result-oriented and focused on the goal we all share together—to return this country to European integration and restore the dignified statehood that Georgia deserves—that would be very good; I would be happy.
But I am here today, which means that at this time and in this space, today and now, I did not and do not agree to enter Parliament and, accordingly, to use the deputy mandate. I want to tell you that this decision was humanly the most difficult. This path from 2021 until today was not paved with roses; it was full of obstacles, and we earned it through joint effort.
In my assessment, Parliament as an institution is, of course, one of the important political levers and mechanisms on the path of using political activity. However, today and now, its function has been absolutely devalued for me. Not by one percent did the combination of my internal and external motivational factors become such that today I would enter there, use the mandate, and thus help the country and the people.
In no case does Parliament as an institution belong to the so-called government, the cabinet, or the political figures there. It belongs to the people. Parliament as an institution—I obviously recognize it; I do not recognize the so-called government’s so-called political figures in this institution, in this building. I simply did not share the scenario existing at this time and in this space—not with Parliament as an institution, but with the people there.
The paths simply diverged, but I know exactly and believe that their goal, our goal, and the broader society’s goal is for the country to return to European tracks.
I will respond to Papuashvili—he has been mentioning my name and surname frequently these past two days. Yesterday [he spoke] about my votes in Chugureti; obviously, he was given incorrect information; there was a major error in what he voiced. At the bureau again [he said], ‘One deputy got lost on the way.’ No, ladies and gentlemen, I haven’t gotten lost anywhere. I know exactly that at this moment, I got off at the right, truthful stop. Of course, I remain in politics, just not as a person with a mandate and in Parliament. This is the truth toward which I must absolutely be honest and right for the benefit of my children and their generation. I am a lecturer, and when I leave here, I have to look my student in the eye and be honest,” Rusudan Tevzadze stated.
As Tevzadze noted, she could not convince herself to use the parliamentary deputy mandate.
“It is possible to ask why everything came to the last second. In general, this is my approach—I exhaust everything to the end so that there is no ‘what if’ later. When I saw that this chance no longer existed and I had to decide as a citizen, I chose civic positions. I could not convince myself that I should use this mandate,” Tevzadze noted.
As Tevzadze noted, entering Parliament was a decision based on the party’s “total number of votes” and not personally Giorgi Gakharia’s.
Furthermore, according to Tevzadze’s explanation, the decision taken by the “Gakharia – For Georgia” party regarding entering Parliament and ending the boycott “is not a betrayal of the opposition or the common goal.”
Rusudan Tevzadze: I know exactly that by refusing the parliamentary mandate, I got off at the right stop – I am a lecturer, and when I leave here, I have to look my student in the eye – I must be honest with my children’s generation
