“I want to start by talking about violence. In my opinion, it hurts all of us. I personally am deeply affected by these events. Of course, I condemn violence, and I believe all of this should not have happened this way,” said Cotne Ivanishvili, son of Bidzina Ivanishvili, during his speech at the youth organization conference of ‘Georgian Dream’, referring to the protest rallies.

He said that the way out of artificially created polarization is discussion, debate, and listening to each other’s different opinions.

At the same time, he noted that he finds it unfortunate that debates, which may not even have started, often end with labels such as “Kotsi,” “Russian,” “Akatsuki,” or “Natsi,” instead of listening to arguments.

“I believe that the best way out of polarization is discussion, debate, and listening to each other’s different opinions. However, it is very important that the person we are talking to—the other side—shares one common postulate, one common value, which I believe is genuine love for the homeland.

If two people truly care about their country, no matter how different their opinions are, in my view, conversation, discussion, and debate can bring a lot of good.

On the other hand, when a person is happy about something bad happening in the country and is upset about something good happening in the country, then talking to such a person unfortunately makes no sense. Therefore, if we are united by that common value—the love of our beloved Georgia, our homeland—I find it very unfortunate that a discussion or debate, which may not even have started, ends with shouting labels like ‘Kotsi,’ ‘Russian,’ ‘Akatsuki,’ or ‘Natsi,’ instead of listening to each other’s arguments and building logical reasoning.

I am convinced that love for the homeland unites many people in our country, and therefore we will manage to ensure more dialogue, and that this polarization, which is artificially created, will be replaced by debate,” Cotne Ivanishvili said.