Vice Speaker: opposition ‘planning revolutions’, rejects ex-Pres Saakashvili’s criticism

Georgia’s First Vice Speaker Giorgi Volski has rejected recent remarks by former president Mikheil Saakashvili, accusing him of falsely portraying parts of the opposition as weak or submissive toward the authorities.

Speaking to reporters, Volski criticised opposition groups linked to the United National Movement, saying they were openly pursuing revolutionary scenarios rather than behaving as what Saakashvili described as “pleading” political actors.

“They have not been acting like timid beggars at all. Saakashvili is inventing things again, just like his new hairstyle,” Volski said.

“What kind of pleading are we talking about when they are constantly planning revolutions and throwing Molotov cocktails?” he added.

Volski also claimed that opposition groups were attempting to portray themselves publicly as constructive political forces while simultaneously supporting radical methods.

He added banners and slogans displayed during recent protests demonstrating that the United National Movement had decided to move “fully to the forefront” of the opposition movement.

“The collective National Movement says openly that the future of the opposition is in their hands,” he said.

Volski further accused former ruling party figures of having governed Georgia through “Gestapo-style methods” during Saakashvili’s presidency and repeated allegations regarding the 2008 war and the loss of territory.

He also criticised “externally influenced” political messaging, saying some protest slogans reflected narratives “written by foreigners who do not understand the reality in Georgia”.

Volski argued that political change in Georgia should take place exclusively through elections rather than through attempts at revolutionary mobilisation by opposition figures such as Nika Gvaramia and Giorgi Vashadze.

“If voters see something better, they will support it,” he said. “But everything must be decided through elections.”