Deputy Giorgi Sharashidze of the party “Gakharia for Georgia” told journalists that his party is rejecting not debates themselves, but the propagandistic farce proposed by Georgian Dream.

Sharashidze stated that his party is willing to participate in real debates, but refuses the panel discussion suggested by Georgian Dream, which involves their satellite parties and hand-picked experts, using the announced debate as another tool of propaganda.

“We are not refusing debates. We are refusing the propagandistic farce proposed by ‘Georgian Dream,’ which includes their satellite parties and trained experts, announcing a debate only to use it again as their propaganda instrument. We are ready to participate in real debates, and I am now, from the Parliament podium, calling on them: we are ready to debate any relevant issue for citizens on any television channel.

I’m sorry, but when you announce a debate and then invite us to a panel discussion where your TV, satellite parties, and experts are brought in - that has nothing to do with dignity. You say one thing and do another, right? That is not a debate. When we said we were ready for debates in any format, we meant real debates. ‘Georgian Dream’ offered us a propagandistic panel discussion, and that won’t work. It’s really just ‘what I ordered, what arrived.’”

When asked whether Iago Khvichia is a satellite opposition member of Georgian Dream, Sharashidze answered affirmatively:

“Yes, of course. You know there are two ‘Girchi’ parties: there is Georgian Dream’s ‘Girchi’ and ‘Girchi’ of the opposition. We do not consider either to be a real opposition.”

For context, the party “Gakharia for Georgia” declined to participate in the debates scheduled today on Rustavi 2.