Nika Gvaramia: Akhmeta-based doctor Maia Kokhtashvili has been banned from participating in elections for five years because it became clear that she enjoys public authority, and it also became clear that this is precisely why a “crime” was fabricated against her

“This is astonishing: Akhmeta-based doctor Maia Kokhtashvili has been banned from participating in elections for five years. Clearly, this is because it became evident that she enjoys public authority, and it also became clear that a ‘crime’ was fabricated against her for precisely this reason,” Nika Gvaramia, one of the leaders of the Coalition for Change, wrote on social media.

According to Gvaramia, everyone who enjoys public influence should be careful.

“It is also obvious that everyone who is a socially influential figure, even if they have absolutely no connection to political activities, should be careful.

Now, let us look at the context: the same legal restriction has been introduced for anyone who has ever had any association with a non-governmental organization.

Let us continue with the context: all opposition parties are being banned, along with their affiliated individuals, which practically includes family members and friends, not to mention activists, supporters, and donors.

Let us continue further: legislative amendments introduced just a few days ago effectively prohibit substantive appeals against the content of final election protocols, leaving only technical aspects open to challenge (in case someone's calculator breaks down and they are unable to do basic addition on paper).

Let us continue with the context: all of this is happening against the backdrop of every election commission being under their control, all the money being in their hands, and all opposition television channels being on the verge of survival (Formula was practically burned down yesterday). The State Security Service, the streets, and the police are all working together against the opposition and critically minded individuals. There are dozens of political prisoners in the country, not to mention everything else.

And now, let us ask the main question: Those of you who keep saying that ‘if Bidzina calls elections, he will win with a constitutional majority without even needing to rig them,’ that ‘this opposition is good for nothing,’ that ‘protests achieve nothing,’ that ‘boycotting parliamentary and local elections played into the hands of Georgian Dream,’ and so on – are you idiots, or do you think Bidzina is an idiot?” Gvaramia wrote.