“Protect Georgia” – New movement with old faces
By Nika Gamtsemlidze
Monday, April 15
Back in 2009, when Levan Gachechiladze established a movement called “Protect Georgia,” his main goal was to fight for peace in the country. “It is necessary to create a powerful movement to challenge the system with a different one.” At that time, the founder thought that everyone who believed that major changes were needed, should have become part of the “Protect Georgia” movement.
Ten years have passed, “the system” has been changed, but the leader of the movement, Davit Magradze, decided to have a gathering in the Tbilisi Concert Hall. As Magradze said, everyone who believes that it’s time to fight for freedom has to attend the gathering.
“Those who believe that the moral limit between Georgian Dream and United National Movement is eliminated and confrontation does not have a value anymore, join us on April 13th to keep on living with dignity,” noted the leader of the movement.
Many Georgian Dream supporters, ex-supporters and ex-members attended the gathering. Among them were: Eka Beselia, Vato Shakarishvili, Nini Karseladze, Marika Tkhelidze and many others.
Magradze talked about Ivanishvili’s statement about the case of Sandro Girgvliani, saying that “They are trying to make us live in their reality, they are making us believe in a new order. Georgian society will never live in this kind of justice.”
He also praised those who decided to leave the leading party. “I believe that they gave true dignity to the parliament by standing up for what they think is right.”
As Magradze said, he still honors Bidzina Ivanishvili as a citizen because of all the things that he has done for the country, but he no longer shares his views.
Former deputy of Georgian Dream, Vato Shakarishvili, said that Georgian Dream party went very far from their original views. “This is not a Georgian Dream anymore; it has become the realization of dreams of Murisidze, Chinchaladze and Zardiashvili.”
Shakarishvili also noted that no one could take away what the Georgian Dream party did seven years ago, but today they can’t give the country the perspective that is necessary for Georgia’s development. “We all agreed that this is not the way to church, that is the reason we have gathered here today” - said Shakarishvili during his speech.
Eka Beselia also attended the meeting, as she said - “I am a part and a supporter of this movement.” She noted that she shares the views of “Protect Georgia” and believes that the fight for change should continue and a new political power has to be born.
Nini Karseladze Georgian singer and a very active supporter of Georgian Dream party also attended the meeting. As she said, she went to the gathering because a lot of people asked her to do so, “I heard what they had to say, but I still am a supporter of Georgian Dream and Mr. Bidzina Ivanishvili.” She also noted that even though she sees a lot of problems in the country, she believes that the Georgian Dream is the only political party that can help Georgia develop in the right way.
Davit Magradze thinks that change is something that has to happen very fast; he believes that Georgian people will support his ideas.
Jaba Jishkariani also addressed the people who gathered in Tbilisi Concert Hall, “Today we are building a platform that will bring us a big victory.” As he said, no one is trying to forget what Georgian Dream did back in 2012, but today we need a new power, which can lead the country to a new path.
