Eliso Chapidze – The Government Compelled Me To Join Politics

Keti Gigolashvili, Information Center of Mtskheta-Mtianeti

Deputy Editor-in-chief of the newspaper “Resonance” journalist Eliso Chapidze is about to join initiative group of Bidzina Ivanishvili’s political party. According to her, the decision to quit journalism was provoked by the authority.

Initiative group of Bidzina Ivanishvili’s political party will be presented today at 12:00 pm. The Initiative Group will unify about 20 people and Bidzina Ivanishvili will personally present them. According to Georgian media, the members of the Initiative Group are experts Giorgi Volski, Nodar Khaduri and  Tedo Japaridze, actress Nineli Chankvetadze, Mathematician Ivane Kiguradze, football player Kakhi Kaladze, human rights defenders Manana Kobakhidze and Sozar Subari, Gogla Zhvania - brother of late prime minister Zurab Zhvania and journalist Eliso Chapidze.

Here goes interview with Eliso Chapidze.

-What did Bidzina Ivanishvili propose you and what kind of cooperation proposal did you accept?

-Bidzina Ivanishvili is establishing a political party and I will be one of the faces in the party.

-In your interview with a news agency you said you had a long conversation with Bidzina Ivanishvili. What did you talk about?

-We conversed much and seriously. I know he will lead pro-western policy in the country and relatively, Georgia’s aspiration towards EU and NATO will not be amended. The issues concerning healthcare, social welfare and media freedom are urgently important for me. We discussed these issues and our views completely coincided with each other. While I have kind will with regard to business development but have no idea how to assist the business, he is expert in this field. He knows how to run business and how to improve his and others’ general conditions. I know how he intends to develop Georgian economics. His position was completely acceptable and convincing for me.

-Society already knows names of several members of the future political party. How convenient is for you cooperation with those people?

-There is nobody among the initiative group members who can be unacceptable for me or for the general society. If undesirable person joins the initiative group, I will publicly express my concern about it.

-Why did you decide to leave journalism?

-Everything will be cleared up today and then I will go into details. But I can say that the government played key role in my decision. In fact, I have not worked as a journalist for a year. Instead writing articles, I participated in protest assemblies. I really did not want to take this step but the government compelled me to do it.

-Do you cease contract with the newspaper “Resonance”?

-Of course, I did. I cannot continue my activities as an editor for the newspaper. However, I will always remain faithful to the Resonance. In future I will share my opinions only with the Resonance.

-Shall we see you in any future media organization, which will subordinate to Ivanishvili’s political party?

-No, we have not discussed this issue! If I go, I will completely quit journalism! Although it is my most favorite profession, I cannot sit on two chairs together. A person shall be focused on one particular field. I have been in journalism for 18 years. Now, I wish you all success.