Georgian Dream Abuts from Ongoing Protest Demonstrations in front of Lanchkuti District Administration

Nino Mshvidobadze, Guria

A tent has been set up in front of the Lanchkhuti district administration for several days already. Lately, a cell was also added in the area. We saw residents of Ozurgeti district together with Lanchkhuti residents four years ago; people from Ozurgeti turned up so-called Zviadists (supporters of the late president of Georgia Zviad Gamsakhurdia); protesters demand resignation of the district governor.

War veteran, Major Gia Gudavadze told us that he expresses solidarity with Lanchkhuti residents.

One of the organizers of the demonstration, member of the Supreme Council Gia Pirtskhalaishvili said, unless their requests are satisfied, he will start hunger strike. “I do not know what other protesters will do, but I will start hunger strike unless they satisfy our demands.”

Member of Republic Party Roman Bitsadze asked Pirtskhalaishvili: “If municipal board does not accept your demands and if local administration does not resign, what will you do?” “It is more likely that situation will be developed in the same way as in Martvili. I do not want it to happen here and hope the municipal board will satisfy our demands,” Pirtskhalaiashvili said. He said people will select new candidate for the district governor’s position.

Majoritarian MP from Lanchkhuti Temur Chkhaidze also appeared at the demonstration. He answered questions of humanrights.ge

-I met these people last evening too but unfortunately they do not share my opinion.

-How do you think, was this situation caused by the fact that Coalition could not select one candidate for the district governor’s position?

-I would like to declare now that we have a candidate but we do not want to name him at this moment.

-Does not Coalition stand behind this protest?

-Of course it does not stand behind it – we absolutely abut from it. I am negotiating with the protesters but they do not accept my proposals…

-Does this demonstration demonstrate that there is controversy within the coalition?

-There is no controversy inside the coalition. Who is Coalition member here?

-Roman Bitsadze from Republic Party…

-Believe me, even Republic Party does not like similar protests. There is nobody else from the Republic Party except Roman here and they should not speak in the name of the Coalition…

“What is happening here is shame for Lanchkhuti. They are breaking through the open door. Who offered a new proposal or an idea to the Coalition? Nobody? Entire world suggests us to protect the law but they are acting just the opposite. It is completely unacceptable form. Our MP said the Coalition abuts from this protest demonstration. What do these protesters want? Tents and cells are mentalities of 1990s and it destroyed Georgia then,” said Vakhtang Zenaishvili from the Georgian Dream, who arrived at the demonstration.

Does chairman of the local organization of the Georgian Dream Soso Bolkvadze stand behind these demonstrations? Humanrights.ge asked this question to him: “I declare again that I abut from this protest. I do not justify this form of protest. I am not standing next to them and I do not want anybody to associate me with this impudence. I would like to add that three days ago I called the MP and informed that situation had worsened here. He met protesters today but it was useless as I see.”

Reportedly, MP Temur Chkhaidze met chairman of the municipal board Revaz Chitidze concerning the ongoing events. Chitidze said they discussed demands of the protesters. We will soon know how the problem will be resolved and how situation will develop.