Opposition parties seek unity in Tbilisi

The parties opposed to the pro-Russian Georgian Dream are trying to agree on a common platform with the aim of bringing about early and ‘legitimate’ parliamentary elections to overthrow the current government without conflict. However, the disagreements between the various forces are far from resolved.

Tbilisi (AsiaNews) - Pro-Western opposition parties in Georgia have been trying for over a month to agree on a common text on the principles of collaboration and coordination of actions, in view of possible changes in the country.

The document is now almost complete, but not all groups consider it effective enough, and some prefer not to commit themselves to contingent commitments within the framework of joint initiatives.

In recent days, Spanish MEP Nacho Sanchez Amor addressed the Foreign Affairs Committee, suggesting that Georgian opponents show ‘generosity of spirit’ and give Georgian and European society the opportunity to understand what choices can help ‘restore democracy in the country’, so that support can also be offered from abroad.

Some of the main opposition leaders have now been released from detention, following their refusal to appear before the Tbilisi parliamentary commission investigating the former regime.

With the authoritative presence of Zurab Džaparidze, Nika Gvaramija and Georgij Vašadze, efforts to reunify the various groups have intensified, seeking to establish together a “code of conduct” appropriate to the circumstances.

The aim is to express the principles of equal collaboration, a common strategy and “democratic rules” for effective opposition to the Georgian Dream regime, always with the goal of early and “legitimate” parliamentary elections to overthrow the current government without conflict.

The content of the document has not yet been made public, pending agreement on every detail and expression, but according to the leader of the Federalists party, Tamar Chernoleishvili (pictured), “it has already been 99% agreed”. In her opinion, “what matters is serving the interests of the Georgian people, not the instincts of generous donors or autocratic leaders”, and the union that must be achieved “is not a marriage” and does not imply the dissolution of the various parties, but only the “ability to collaborate for common purposes”.

She is confident that ‘if we keep the commitments made and expressed in the joint document, we will succeed in sending Bidzina Ivanishvili home,’ as she stated on the television programme 360 Gradi.

One of the goals that opponents consider particularly urgent is to demonstrate unity in front of their European and American allies, presenting themselves as a credible alternative to the current government in order to prevent the extension of Russian influence throughout the South Caucasus.

As Chernoleishvili assures, ‘the US will be happy to welcome us if we can truly represent our people and not act according to our party goals.’ Appealing to foreign partners is nothing new among Georgian opposition groups, which are constantly accused by the government of being “foreign agents” in the service of the Deep State, but this strategy has so far brought few benefits due to ongoing internal disagreements among pro-Western parties.

The main leaders are banned from travelling abroad, but Tamar assures that ‘if others represent us, there will be no problems’, as confirmed by the head of the ‘Coalition for Change’, Nika Gvaramija.

The main opposition party, the National Movement founded by former president Mikhail Saakashvili, who has been in prison for over five years, did not initially join in drafting the joint document, but has now also approved the text, and the approval of the “Gakharija for Georgia” and 'Lelo – Strong Georgia's approval is also expected, while the leader of the People's Party, Anna Dolidze, has stated that she ‘will not participate in these empty formal procedures’.

The disagreements are far from resolved, but there is hope for a new joint initiative that will garner popular support after more than a year of protests in the streets of Tbilisi.