Gia Volski: I don’t know what’s in Elene Khoshtaria’s or Gedi Popkhadze’s hearts; the fact is they made themselves visible and even sent the German ambassador on his way, yet nothing has actually changed — those who weren’t planning to take part in the elections still aren’t planning to

I don’t know what Elene Khoshtaria or Gedevan Popkhadze truly feel in their hearts, but the fact is they made themselves visible, even saw off the German ambassador, yet in reality, nothing has changed — those who weren’t planning to participate in the elections still don’t intend to, said Parliament’s First Vice Speaker Gia Volski in a comment to journalists.

Volski believes the essence of this process was to send certain messages in the direction from which “funding and political support” are coming.

“I don’t know what Elene Khoshtaria or Gedevan Popkhadze feel deep down. No one can know that — it’s hard to decipher. But the fact is they made a public appearance, showed themselves, and even saw off the German ambassador. Still, nothing has really changed. Those who didn’t plan to take part in the elections still have no intention to participate. I think the essence of this whole process was to send certain messages in the direction from which financial and political support comes,” Volski said.

For context, eight opposition parties released a joint statement announcing they would not participate in the local self-government elections. The signatories include: “Liberty Square,” “It’s Time,” “Girchi – More Freedom,” “United National Movement,” “Strategy Aghmashenebeli,” “European Georgia,” “Akhali,” and “Federalists.” Following this announcement, Elene Khoshtaria and Gedevan Popkhadze, who had been on a hunger strike in front of Parliament, ended their protest.