“I believe that no one should try to claim ownership of the protest. It’s a thankless task. I don’t think people gathered on Rustaveli Avenue because of a call from any one specific individual. This is a collective people’s process, especially when we talk about October 26, when Mr. Bokeria’s party did not participate in the elections at all,” said Levan Sanikidze, one of the leaders of the “National Movement,” commenting on the protest held yesterday on Rustaveli Avenue.
According to him, the October 26 protest once again demonstrated that the Georgian people have not forgiven Bidzina Ivanishvili for rigging the parliamentary elections on October 26, 2024.
Sanikidze stated that holding such protests periodically sends an important message to those inside the country who are actively involved in the protests daily, as well as to international partners, showing that the wave of protests in Georgia has not subsided.
“Free citizens gathered on Rustaveli Avenue and once again affirmed their position that there is an illegitimate parliament in the country. On October 26, 2024, when Ivanishvili seized power in this country, that’s when the cycle began that has cost people on Rustaveli Avenue almost their lives.
I believe that no one should try to claim ownership of the protest; it’s a thankless task. I don’t think people went there because of a call from any one specific individual. This is a collective people’s process, especially since, on October 26, Mr. Bokeria’s party did not participate in the elections and was not even on the ballot, so it couldn’t have been their protest. This is a people’s process that cannot be led by any single man or woman. This process will only end in victory if there is full and absolute consolidation of healthy opposition forces,” Sanikidze stated.
Additionally, one of the leaders of the “National Movement” commented on the constitutional lawsuit filed by “Georgian Dream” regarding the banning of parties, which is expected to be submitted to the court in a few days.
“Unfortunately, the majority of the Constitutional Court judges are loyal to Ivanishvili’s regime, so we have no hope for a democratic process in the Constitutional Court. The ‘National Movement’ is working on a strategy to raise awareness of this issue both within and outside the country. Soon, the public will learn about these steps and see the strategy our team has chosen, both domestically and internationally. You will learn everything; active work is underway. This is not a legal process; it is unequivocally a process of political repression. Accordingly, you will learn about all the steps that will ensure Ivanishvili ends up in a weaker position than before this decision.
We don’t want to get ahead of events; this is a matter of a few days. In a few days, it will become clear what will happen. In my opinion, ‘Georgian Dream’ has absolutely declared that, over these 13 years, those who have consistently resisted them are their main targets. Accordingly, we will provide detailed explanations and information about how the ‘National Movement’ plans to engage in this process, both inside and outside the country. The ‘National Movement’ will choose its own strategy in this regard and will be independent in implementing it.
Regarding the lawsuit, the Constitutional Court will make a decision that will be damaging not only to Ivanishvili’s regime but will also reaffirm to the world that there is a dictatorship in the country,” Sanikidze stated.
He also commented on the decision by the “Gakharia for Georgia” party to end its boycott and enter parliament. According to Sanikidze, this action by Giorgi Gakharia’s party is a “betrayal of the struggle.”
“I believe it is simply a betrayal of the struggle and a step against the future of this country, serving only narrow, partisan, and mercantile interests, not the interests of the Georgian people. On the contrary, a one-party parliament under Ivanishvili would have been far more significant in terms of subjecting Ivanishvili to international isolation than the presence of 12 representatives from Gakharia’s party in parliament, whose primary goal is self-preservation, both politically and financially,” Sanikidze stated.
Levan Sanikidze: No one should try to claim ownership of the protest; it’s a thankless task – this is a collective people’s process that cannot be led by any single man or woman
