Opposition leader Gvaramia announces new campaign launch

Nika Gvaramia, a leader of the Coalition for Change and a member of the opposition alliance, has announced the launch of a “major campaign” on 25 October, calling for “Georgia without [ruling party founder Bidzina] Ivanishvili” and urging the country to reclaim its European future.

The campaign will begin at 7pm outside the First Building of Tbilisi State University (TSU), Gvaramia said.

“We will protest everything fearlessly and firmly, with one main demand - Georgia without Ivanishvili. Let us reclaim Europe,” he said, calling on supporters to attend.

Gvaramia argued that banning political parties would deprive Georgia of democracy and accused the authorities of undermining the country’s European aspirations and citizens’ rights.

He said the consequences would extend beyond politics, affecting education, healthcare, pensions, living costs, regional development, farmers’ access to markets, freedom of expression and the right of Georgian citizens living abroad to vote.

Gvaramia stressed the events surrounding the 26 October 2024 parliamentary election were not about opposition politicians losing their positions, but about the Georgian Dream government taking control of the country. He alleged that the authorities were seeking to maintain corruption and enrich themselves at the expense of the public.

Gvaramia said the opposition would continue its protests in courtrooms, in Batumi and on the streets of Tbilisi.

“Our demand is to reclaim Europe, justice and prosperity, and to ensure that Georgians can live happily in their own country,” he said.