The South Caucasus News - SouthCaucasusNews.comAt the special briefing on September 16, Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili announced the impending coalition of two opposition forces: Lelo’s Strong Georgia and ex-Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia’s For Georgia. The President invited both forces to the Orbeliani Presidential Palace on September 17 to officially seal the coalition.
She said the “positive, third center” must be created for opposition-leaning, undecided voters to make the choice easier and clearer for them. She named Strong Georgia, which is the coalition of Lelo, Ana Dolidze’s For People and Citizens political parties and the Freedom Square movement on the one hand, and ex-Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia’s For Georgia party on the other. Zurabishvili said she had consulted with all the forces and noted that she saw these two as having the power “to create an impetus in society for full mobilization.”
She said that she welcomes the readiness of these two powers, emphasizing that she knows they are ready and willing to unite.
She invited both parties to the Orbeliani Palace on September 17 to “immediately carry out the final step of the negotiations.”
Calling on them to unite, Zurabishvili concluded: “I am sure that this is exactly what society expects from you.”
Productive official visit to #Georgia & a fruitful meeting with @PM_Kobakhidze.
We focused on strengthening bilateral ties & economic cooperation & addressing regional challenges. Reaffirmed our commitment to working together for the benefit of our countries & the region. 🇦🇲🤝🇬🇪 pic.twitter.com/Kp8FYxSrIt
— Nikol Pashinyan (@NikolPashinyan) September 16, 2024
Journalist David Gobechia and activist of the movement “Hara H-Pitsunda” Lia Agrba were attacked and physically assaulted on September 15, according to the Telegram channel Respublica/РЕСПУБЛИКА, which published a “statement of political and civil organizations” of occupied Abkhazia. The organizations claim that the attack was a political order issued by the so-called authorities against these individuals who publicly criticized the de facto Apartments Law. “Hara H-Pitsunda” actively opposes the sale of land in the occupied region.
The organizations report that Gobechia and Agrba were attacked by unidentified masked men who blinded both of them with tear gas and physically assaulted Gobechia. They claim that this attack is a “clear attempt to prevent the struggle for justice, democracy and the defense of national interests” in the occupied region.
The organizations call on the de facto law enforcement authorities to immediately identify the attackers. They also note that the so-called authorities are resorting to unauthorized methods to stifle dissent and that they now “have the chance to redeem themselves by immediately disclosing flagrant crimes with an obvious political background.”
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