Pro-European unity of opposition same as pro-Ukrinian – opposition politician Popkhadze

A pro-European union of Georgian opposition parties automatically means being pro-Ukrainian following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in late February, opposition politician Gedevan Popkhadze told Front News on Friday. 

The comment comes on the heels of recent announcement of the Strategy Agmashenebeli, Droa and Girchi-More Freedom opposition parties to unite around a joint action plan for Georgia’s “European future”, calling on other opposition groups to join them in a bid to change the “pro-Russian government” and ensure the country’s European Union membership candidate status. 

“If this process, initiated by Vashadze-Japaridze-Khostaria, becomes a prerequisite for a larger union, it will be very good. I am in favor of a great pro-European union. If this is the process I have mentioned, of course, I will definitely take part in it”, said the politician. 

He stated that it was important for political parties to put aside “narrow, party interests” and unite around the common goal. 

“After February 24 [when Russia invaded Ukraine], the political situation has changed [in Georgia], there is no longer talk of opposition political parties being in competition mode. If you are a pro-European force and support the fight of Ukraine against Russian occupation, this obliges you to switch to another political regime. A pro-European union has been on the agenda since the beginning of Russian aggression against Ukraine, which will be a pro-Ukrainian force at the same time,” Popkhadze suggested. 

He stressed that the unification did not necessarily mean that the parties would participate in the elections together.