Georgian opposition figure describes ‘civilisational struggle’ over country’s future

A member of the Coalition for Change, Giga Lemonjava, has said Georgia was facing what he described as a “civilisational struggle” to secure its future outside Russian influence.

Speaking on Tuesday, Lemonjava argued that the country was at a decisive moment, claiming that Georgia now had a rare level of international support that could enable it to “reach a safe and stable path.” He alleged that Russia was attempting to obstruct this process.

He further claimed former prime minister and ruling party founder Bidzina Ivanishvili had been positioned as part of what he described as a “hybrid war instrument” aimed at undermining Georgia’s Western trajectory -  an assertion for which he did not present evidence.

Lemonjava cautioned against expectations of rapid political change, saying that claims of victory within months were misleading. Instead, he framed the current political situation as part of a long struggle dating back to the annexation of Georgia by the Russian Empire.

“This is not a new fight,” he said, adding that the current developments represent the culmination of a broader effort to free Georgia from what he called “Russian grip.”