Opposition Leader Warns of Protest Rallies from Mid-February
The opposition will begin permanent protest rallies from mid-February if the authorities show no willingness to meet demands outlined in an opposition joint memorandum expected to be unveiled on Tuesday, Levan Gachechiladze, the former nine-party opposition coalition presidential candidate, said on January 28.
“Our demands have three major strands: a just judiciary; parity in the election administrations and a free broadcast media,” he said on a Rustavi 2 TV late-night political talk show, Primetime. “The memorandum gives the details of these demands.”
“This is a warning to the authorities. An uncompromising fight and permanent protest rallies will be launched starting from mid-February if these demands are not met… I will fight to the end.”
He said the demands aimed at creating fair conditions ahead of the parliamentary elections, and if not met, “I personally deem it pointless to even participate in the parliamentary elections.”
Gachechiladze refused to say whether there would be a joint opposiition electoral campaign, saying instead the priority at the moment was to create fair conditions for the elections.
“If we see a repetition of January 5 [the conduct of the presidential election], the opposition should not participate in the parliamentary elections at all,” Gachechiladze said.
Gachechiladze then gave his considered view of the new cabinet, describing it as “anti-Georgian.” Education Minister-designate Ghia Nodia, he said, was “anti-Georgian number one.”
