“What does Gakharia’s party have to do with it? I’ll tell you - it is involved,” Georgian parliamentary majority leader Kirtskhalia says

Georgian parliamentary majority leader Irakli Kirtskhalia has defended the inclusion of former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia’s party in a constitutional lawsuit, arguing that its political cooperation with the United National Movement (UNM) demonstrates a shared political agenda.

Speaking on the television programme Open Air, Kirtskhalia responded to political analyst Vazha Beridze, who questioned the relevance of Gakharia’s party to the constitutional proceedings.

Kirtskhalia cited examples of coalition cooperation between Gakharia’s party and the United National Movement, arguing that formal political alliances indicate agreement on fundamental political principles.

“When I consider myself a political force and openly enter into a coalition, confirming that alliance by signing various documents and establishing cooperation at the local government level with what I regard as a regime, isn’t that a political marriage?” Kirtskhalia said.

“What difference does it make when a party forms a coalition with a party of torturers, with a regime? What does forming a coalition mean? It means sharing its fundamental political beliefs,” he added.

Addressing Beridze’s question directly, Kirtskhalia said: “You ask me what Gakharia’s party has to do with it. I’ll tell you - it is involved.”

The parliamentary majority leader maintained that the timing of political cooperation was irrelevant, arguing that entering into a coalition demonstrated a fundamental alignment between the participating parties.

His remarks came amid discussions over the constitutional lawsuit targeting opposition political parties and the grounds for including Gakharia’s party in the proceedings.