Ivanishvili Addresses Rally in Akhaltsikhe, Calls for Ban on Opposition and Rejection of 'Pseudo-Liberal Values'
By Liza Mchedlidze
Tuesday, September 10, 2024
On September 8, Bidzina Ivanishvili, the Honorary Chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party, addressed supporters in Akhaltsikhe behind a bulletproof glass booth. The speech echoed themes from previous rallies, with a focus on the "collective UNM" and rejecting "pseudo-liberal values" from abroad.
Ivanishvili praised Georgian Dream's 12 years of governance, highlighting the country's progress. "By standing together, we made it and built the country where all human rights, freedom of opinion, and speech are protected, the judiciary is healthier, the media is independent, and business is inviolable," he said. He stressed that the GD would continue this work, adding, "We will do everything so that every citizen of Georgia experiences the development of the country and prosperity."
He emphasized that GD's greatest achievement was maintaining "continuous" peace, which he credited to the people's support. "This is the result of the years of declared support for the Georgian Dream," he told the crowd, receiving applause, reportedly pre-recorded, similar to previous rallies.
Ivanishvili warned against the "collective UNM," referring to the opposition. He claimed that the opposition views war as an opportunity to return to power. "The collective UNM sees war not as a disaster, but as an opportunity. even at the cost of the blood of its own people," he stated. He also accused the UNM of "provoking" the 2008 Russo-Georgian War and attempting to involve Georgia in Russia's war against Ukraine by opening a "second front."
Ivanishvili portrayed the upcoming October 26 parliamentary elections as a fight for Georgia's future, framing it as a choice between peace and war, and between "pseudo-liberal values" and Georgian traditions. "We will decide between war and peace, pseudo-liberal values, and nationality, family, faith, and values based on independence," he said, contrasting these with the opposition's alleged agenda of foreign influence.
He reiterated his commitment to outlaw the UNM, labeling it a threat to national security. He also promised that attempts to impose "pseudo-liberal values" from abroad would end under GD leadership.
Ivanishvili stressed the importance of winning the elections decisively, saying that a clear victory would prevent the opposition from contesting the results and would bring an end to political instability. "We need to win so convincingly that no one can question it," he said.
He also promised constitutional changes to support Georgia's territorial integrity and vowed that the Orthodox Church's role in the state would be strengthened in future elections. "Orthodox Christianity will be strengthened by the Constitution as a pillar of the Georgian state's identity," Ivanishvili declared, while also assuring that other religious rights would not be harmed.
