“Whether we participate in elections; if we do, what we call elections; if we don’t, why; whether we should have entered Parliament; why we didn’t enter — on all these and similar issues, I have never made decisions alone, nor will I, nor can I,” wrote one of the leaders of the Coalition for Change, Nika Gvaramia, in a social media post.

According to Gvaramia, both they themselves and others should understand that responsibility is shared equally among all.

“Whether we participate in elections; if we do, what we define as elections; if we don’t, why not; whether we should have entered Parliament; why we did not enter —

On all these and similar issues, I have never made a decision alone, and I will not and cannot do so. This was not possible before, it is not possible now, and I have never had — nor will I have — such a desire.

Just as I have never made decisions alone on any matter, including financial issues (both receiving and spending funds).

So when some persistent ‘friends,’ politicians, journalists, or voters/protesters try to attribute everything to me, on the one hand it is egoistically flattering, but on the other hand it is unpleasant, false, and damaging (both personally for me and, more importantly, for the cause).

Moreover, this is not the time nor the need for anyone to be perceived as more of a leader — whether me or anyone else. Quite the opposite.

In this situation, it would probably not be a bad idea for everyone to clearly state their positions on all of the above issues. Journalists and active citizens should also know that difficult and uncomfortable questions are not meant only for me. This is neither fair nor rational, and it creates the impression that if everything goes well, it will be thanks to everyone, but if something goes wrong, let it be blamed on Gvaramia.

We must remember — and others should know — that responsibility is shared equally by all of us: whether in a party, a coalition, or an alliance; whether in freedom or in prison; in both good and bad outcomes, in success and in failure,” Gvaramia wrote on social media.