Grigol Gegelia, a member of “Lelo – Strong Georgia,” responded on Palitranews’ program Daily Newsroom to the appearance of former Interior and Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia before the investigative commission, saying:
"Giorgi Gakharia made a fundamental mistake yesterday by appearing before the so-called commission. Berdia Sichinava, a representative of his party, said that this commission is a farce. So, the party holds two positions – they believe the commission is a farce, and yet Gakharia participated in it. Mamuka Khazaradze wrote this too, and he was absolutely right. Berdia Sichinava confirmed it by saying it's a 'half-truth commission'. No – it’s not a half-truth commission, it’s a commission of complete lies. It’s a shameful commission, composed – pardon me – of ‘political prostitutes’. What is Sozar Subari if not a political prostitute? A man who engaged in political prostitution under every regime? Sorry to the public, but this must be said. That man shouldn’t dare show his face in this city. Since the 90s, he's had these kinds of relationships with every regime and power center. And now he’s supposed to question someone?"
"To expose Georgian Dream, I should sit in a non-existent commission with Tea Tsulukiani? Go to the so-called parliament and take part in a show driven by Tsulukiani’s ego, just to call out lies? Or let Subari ask me or anyone else questions? Gakharia participated in a farce yesterday, plain and simple."
According to Gegelia, "No action can legitimize this commission. What is stillborn will remain stillborn. Not even Gakharia or Jesus Christ could legitimize this commission, because a legitimate commission can only follow a legitimate election. That’s not the case here. The commission is a joke – a farce. Gakharia showed double standards, likely out of fear – the same fear others managed to overcome. In this country, many political leaders have set aside personal ego, concerns about criminal consequences, and worries about stability. No politician today should prioritize anything over maintaining stability. Gakharia and other leaders invited to this commission should understand that."
On Berdia Sichinava’s “counter-question” asking why opposition figures go to the pro-government Murusidze-Chinchaladze courts if they don’t recognize the commission, Gegelia replied:
"That’s not a counter-question – it’s demagoguery. Then let me ask: why does Berdia Sichinava stop at red lights? Why does he pay his utility bills at the end of the month? Why does he recognize traffic signals? Every day we act within the framework of the state – the same state that is currently ill, infected with authoritarianism, and needs treatment, but it still exists. The judiciary has been like this for 33 years, including during Gakharia’s time. Should we ask Gakharia more questions now? We’re ready."
On the future of the “Resistance Platform” following Gakharia’s appearance before the commission, Gegelia said:
"I can’t speak for the member parties of the platform. But let’s be clear – Gakharia’s team systematically acted to prevent unity of this kind. So nothing new has happened for me. I just hadn’t spoken about it publicly before. But now I am. I’ve been working for months in the foreign policy group – one of the most successful models of opposition cooperation. I’ve never left ‘Lelo’; I still represent ‘Strong Georgia.’ We’ve been cooperating with other parties on national interests. Gakharia’s party was selectively involved – more at some moments, less at others. But fundamentally, he avoided full participation. He didn’t sign a single foreign policy document with other coalition leaders, including the letter sent to Brussels. Is that normal? I don’t think so. Let citizens and voters judge that. If you are the fourth-largest party in the country, you should show enough professionalism to sign alongside others. That’s a matter of principle. Gakharia and his team never exited campaign mode. But if we don’t reach elections, he’ll be stuck in campaign mode at home. And nobody cares if Giorgi Gakharia stays in campaign mode at home."
Gegelia also commented on Georgian Dream’s statement about extending the commission’s deadline, which they say will delay efforts to ban the “Collective United National Movement” before local elections:
"Once again, Georgian Dream is playing with the fate of the country and its political system. These people have no principles or state ethics. They’re swindlers and charlatans, doing whatever Russia and, of course, Bidzina (Ivanishvili) tell them to do. I wouldn’t pay attention to their political calendar. If they want to try banning political parties supported by over a million Georgians, let them start now. No one will be intimidated. No one will abstain from local elections because of this. As always, they’re trying to manipulate the situation."
Finally, Gegelia concluded with confidence:
"Just as I’m sitting here in this program, I can tell you with certainty – this year, new parliamentary elections will be announced and held."
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