Reports: Ex-Host of ‘Protest TV’ May Run for Mayor

Giorgi Gachechiladze, a singer with a nickname Ucnobi, who was one of the key figures behind last year’s lengthy street protest rallies through his reality TV show, may run for Tbilisi mayoral office, it was reported on April 21.

“I’m in talks with colleagues and I will make a formal statement in few days,” he was quoted in a brief comment to news agency, InterPressNews, on April 21.

One of his close allies, Tamaz Gamtsemlidze, confirmed that “it is being considered”, but also added “no concrete decision is yet made… any decision is expected.”

Giorgi Gachechiladze is a brother of a leader of public movement Defend Georgia, Levan Gachechiladze, who was the opposition presidential candidate in 2008 snap presidential elections. In recent months Levan Gachechiladze and not his brother was in a focus of media’s attention, as there were speculation about Levan Gachechiladze’s plans for local elections. Last week he, however, announced that he would not run for the Tbilisi mayor.

A decision by leader of Defend Georgia not to run for the Tbilisi mayor was mainly positively accepted by several opposition mayoral candidates, as it is believed that presence of many opposition candidates in the race will split an overall opposition vote, thus putting a ruling party candidate in favorable position. A candidate winning most of the votes, but not less than 30% will be declared an outright winner, but a runoff will be required if none of them garners 30%.

If Giorgi Gachechiladze, who is not a member of any political party, decides to formally nominate his candidacy, then he will have to ally himself with one of those political parties, which is registered by Central Election Commission for running in the elections, as according to the law only a political party is entitled to nominate a mayoral candidate.

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