The political initiative ‘Georgia First,’ founded by Bidzina Ivanishvili’s former lawyer Viktor Kipiani, has been formed as a political party.
The founding congress of the party was held on June 28 in Tbilisi, with Viktor Kipiani elected as party chair.
Kipiani said the party aims to become a political force where “not only members of ‘Georgia First’, but anyone else, can get along equally.”
He stated that the party rejects dividing Georgians into categories of “patriots” and “the stateless,” and opposes distinguishing between friendly and unfriendly countries in the “civilized world.” Kipiani also noted that the party rejects the “cult of glorification of personalities” as well as political revenge and retribution.
He added that the initiative was shaped by political developments in the country over recent years, which he said had negatively affected the state’s development.
The party’s political council members include Vakhtang Kapanadze, Valeri Chechelashvili, Rusudan Tevzadze, Nikoloz Khatiashvili, and Giorgi Antadze.
Co-founders and advisers include Nikoloz Alavidze and Giorgi Tumasiani.
The audit board is chaired by Giorgi Shalamberidze, with members Beka Bochorishvili, Iveri Misriashvili, and Vasil Ivanov-Chikovani.
Georgia First will position itself as a center-right party, and its members say they plan to cooperate with all Western partners.
