“Collective UNM” sees war as “opportunity” to regain office - ruling party Honorary Chair

Bidzina Ivanishvili, the Honorary Chair and founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Sunday said “there are still people, political forces, and non-governmental organisations in Georgia - in a word, a collective United National Movement - that view war not as misfortune, but as an opportunity. With the support of their foreign patrons, they see it as a chance to regain power at any cost”.

Speaking in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region of Southwest Georgia during an election address, Ivanishvili accused the current opposition representatives of having “first destroyed the country in 2008 by provoking the war with Russia and then continuously attempting to turn Georgia into a second front in the current Ukraine conflict. This is a direct order from their foreign patrons, aligning with the narrow, radical interests of the collective UNM to return to power”.

He stressed that “today, we are not just involved in an election campaign, we are in a battle to protect our peace, sovereignty, traditions, and values. One of the key battlegrounds is the October 26 parliamentary elections”.

Ivanishvili further commented the Georgian public faced a choice “not between good and better, but between war and peace, between pseudo-liberal values and those rooted in nationalism, family, faith, and independence. We are choosing between a worthy European future and the distorted reality the radical opposition and foreign actors term as ‘Europeanness’, which they seek to impose”.

He emphasised the forthcoming vote “as crucial as those in 2012”, claiming, “the victory of the GD party is fundamentally important once again. After your support, the GD, as the only guarantor of peace and a dignified European future for Georgia, will not only politically eliminate the radical opposition but also address a significant threat to our sovereignty by declaring the UNM unconstitutional”. 

Ivanishvili vowed that if the GD secured a “convincing” electoral victory, “foreign attempts to impose pseudo-liberal values on our people will come to an end. We will not allow anyone to insult our faith, culture, history, or values, which are the foundation of our upbringing and will continue to be so for future generations”. 

The official reiterated GD’s commitment to “ensuring that the role of the Orthodox Church is reflected in the constitution as it deserves” and clarified that this “will not diminish the importance of any other religious denominations in the country”. 

“Georgia is distinguished by the mutual respect that people of different faiths have for one another, and this will continue. The state will remain the guarantor of religious freedom, ensuring equal care for every citizen, regardless of nationality or religion”, he stressed.

We will enshrine the role of the Orthodox Church in the Constitution in the form it rightfully deserves. Orthodox Christianity will be affirmed in the Constitution as a pillar of Georgia’s national identity! However, no one should forget that for centuries, we have lived in a multi-ethnic country where for hundreds of years, representatives of various ethnic groups have lived, fought, and worked alongside Georgians. These people have been, are, and will continue to be one of the main pillars of our country. 
That is why, by stressing the role of the Orthodox Church in Georgia’s Constitution, no religious denomination will be diminished in significance. On the contrary, what makes our country truly unique is the profound respect we have for one another’s religions, and this will continue in the future. Every religious denomination will be protected just as before, and the state will remain the guarantor of their freedom, as we live in a country where the state cares equally for each citizen, regardless of their ethnicity or religion." Ivanishvili noted.

Ivanishvili also criticised the previous UNM administration for its “neglect” of the Samtskhe-Javakheti region and  highlighted the GD’s achievements, noting that ₾130 million ($48 million) had been invested in rehabilitating the region’s cities, where infrastructure was “completely revamped”, and urban spaces beautified.

He noted the GD Government had implemented projects worth ₾350 million ($129 million) sine 2014, focusing on providing “essential services” like drinking water to previously underserved areas. Additionally, natural gas access was extended to 11,500 subscribers, with full gasification of the region expected by 2025.

Ivanishvili further noted that between 2012 and 2024, five hydroelectric power plants with a total installed capacity of 99 MW were built in Samtskhe-Javakheti and added that 18 more hydroelectric projects with a combined capacity of 112 MW were currently under construction or undergoing research.

In terms of economic development, Ivanishvili mentioned that local entrepreneurs and small businesses have benefited from ₾300 million ($110 million) allocated through state programmes, leading to the creation of 4,000 jobs, with more to come.

Tourism in the region has also seen significant growth, he said, with last year’s record of half a million visitors, “attributed to improved infrastructure, restored historical sites, and new tourist facilities”. “Today, the region is fully prepared to meet the demands of modern tourism”, Ivanishvili concluded.