Giorgi Sharashidze, one of the leaders of the opposition party For Georgia (Gakharia), condemned the escalation of violence during the October 4 protests in Tbilisi. Speaking at a briefing at the party office, Sharashidze said that radical and irresponsible calls by certain politicians created a new flashpoint of violence and gave the illegitimate authorities a pretext to use force just one hour before polling stations closed.
“Our political force categorically condemns all forms of violence and calls on Georgian citizens not to participate in radical or destructive actions,” Sharashidze said.
He stressed that what occurred on Rustaveli Avenue and near the Presidential residence amounted to a discrediting of peaceful protest, for which he held the organizers of the “boycott” and “peaceful overthrow” initiatives fully responsible.
He criticized parts of the opposition for undermining the electoral process, claiming that irresponsible politicians had allowed Georgian Dream to claim undeserved victories in municipal elections instead of achieving opposition wins in Tbilisi and other major cities through legitimate elections.
“Instead of celebrating together today the protection of Tbilisi from the corrupt Kaladze-Georgian Dream clan, we are witnessing a discrediting of peaceful protest. The uncontrolled escalation of these events serves only the interests of Georgia’s enemies,” Sharashidze added.
He concluded by affirming the party’s commitment to responsible, moderate, and peaceful political steps to achieve change in the country, and extended support to opposition-minded citizens and participants in peaceful protests who were disappointed by today’s events.
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