One of the leaders of the “National Movement,” Khatia Dekanoidze, called the announced amendments “repressive.” According to these changes, a new article is being added to the Criminal Code titled: “Extremism against the constitutional order,” and committing a crime motivated by opposition to Georgia’s constitutional order and constitutional bodies will become an aggravating circumstance.

According to Dekanoidze, a strong government does not need such laws, while the current government intends to imprison the source of its power — the people.

“[The amendments] mean that practically one of the most sensitive, painful, and vulnerable issues for them is legitimacy. Bidzina Ivanishvili’s whim, his foot-stamping that we have been observing throughout this period — ‘recognize us’ — is directed at the Georgian people inside the country, at the numerous people who voted for the opposition and believe the elections were rigged. If these people did not see the result in the elections and their expression of will was not reflected, of course the elections are unacceptable to them and the government is not legitimate in their eyes. On the other hand, his whim and foot-stamping is also directed at international actors; he is telling all our international partners: why don’t you want to recognize us? Of course, the principle of enforcing this law cannot be implemented so [simply], because it is unthinkable to lock up and send tens of thousands of people to prison. It is unacceptable. First of all, a strong government does not need such laws. The main feature of an autocracy built on lies is that every Monday they bring out something that is supposedly meant to intimidate the people — to show ‘we are strong.’ At the same time, a truly strong power does not need to punish opponents, throw them in prison, or adopt such legislation. The source of all power is the people for the government — meaning they intend to arrest and imprison this very people,” – stated Dekanoidze.

Khatia Dekanoidze also spoke about the debates related to European integration and stated that the government is trying to finally abandon the Euro-Atlantic future.

“These programs are also proof of this — it is the final rejection of the European Union and NATO, the direction in which ‘Georgian Dream’ is heading. Despite the fact that Bidzina Ivanishvili has long been trying to close the geopolitical window, officially they have not yet declared that ‘we are closing it, we don’t want the European Union.’ Today Kobakhidze’s message was very concrete: we need arguments about whether the European Union is good or bad,” – stated Dekanoidze.