Viktor Kipiani: Banning opposition parties will make normal political dialogue extremely difficult; it will radicalise the process and shift relations into a confrontational mode

Banning opposition parties will make normal political dialogue extremely difficult, radicalise the process and shift relations into a confrontational mode, said Viktor Kipiani, chairman of the political party For Georgia First, in response to a question about the potential banning of five opposition parties.

According to Kipiani, the potential banning of opposition parties was among the topics discussed at a meeting held today between representatives of the For Georgia First party, parties forming part of the opposition alliance, and diplomatic missions accredited in Georgia.

“Despite being in the opposition, we feel a sense of responsibility for the process. This is not a partisan approach or a narrow political stance; it is an approach driven by state interests.

“Our objective today was to demonstrate precisely that. Of course, if the process unfolds as you described [opposition parties are banned], normal political dialogue will become extremely difficult. It will radicalise the process and shift relations into a confrontational mode. This is not in the interests of For Georgia First, and I believe it should not be in Georgian Dream’s interests either,” Viktor Kipiani stated.