According to Giorgi Sharashidze, a member of parliament from the Gakharia for Georgia party, there is nothing surprising about the ongoing processes against Giorgi Gakharia, and it once again proves that the party’s decision to enter parliament was the right one.

As he stated on Palitra News’ program Resume, the party will continue its struggle from the parliamentary tribune, since they consider the use of parliamentary mechanisms to be the correct path:

“There is nothing unexpected here. Now you can finally be sure that there was no deal [about entering parliament]. None of this started yesterday or even a year ago. The conspiracy theories began on the very day Giorgi Gakharia resigned as prime minister. At the same time, we must not forget Bidzina Ivanishvili’s public threat toward Giorgi Gakharia.

Ivanishvili said he had ‘settled matters against Gakharia at the court level.’ After such a statement, what independence of the judiciary can we talk about? This one phrase alone is enough to prove that this case has nothing to do with law or justice,” Sharashidze said.

He added that the political struggle must continue through institutional means — from the parliamentary tribune, where words carry far greater weight than on the street.

Sharashidze emphasized that For Georgia is not a “street opposition” and that the party stands for a principled but constructive struggle:

“All this confirmed that our decision to enter parliament was correct. We must continue the struggle through parliamentary tools. Of course, we could also speak in the streets, but words spoken in parliament carry different power. We believe that if we hadn’t entered parliament, perhaps they wouldn’t even have used imprisonment. Georgian Dream doesn’t need a principled party like ours.

We are not a street opposition. We may take a more academically principled position than some politicians who just shout and scream. The street is not the place for this. Giorgi Gakharia didn’t create a party after resigning as prime minister to continue the struggle in the streets,” Sharashidze said.

Sharashidze also noted that the current political developments have been strongly influenced by the boycott campaign, but added that Bidzina Ivanishvili’s desire for revenge has had just as much impact:

“What has this reality brought us? The underground? Of course, the boycott campaign had an effect, and of course, Bidzina Ivanishvili’s revenge also had an effect.

For Giorgi Gakharia, the political charges change nothing. Naturally, we will continue working in parliament. Gakharia has never had a problem managing or being involved in the party — not before, not now, and not in the future. We don’t deny that the situation is diffiult,” Sharashidze said.