Assembly of Georgian Dream Failed in Khoni

Mari Tabidze, Khoni

On January 28, Assembly of the Georgian Dream was scheduled in Khoni, where chairman of the district organization was to be elected. However, the meeting was canceled.

Part of Georgian Dream’s activists protested nomination of Otar Mushkudiani as a candidate for the chairman’s position. They even held protest demonstration, where about 150 supporters gathered. Khoni district majoritarian candidate of the Georgian Dream Nika Sanodze was among protesters as well.

Otar Mushkudiani appeared at the protest demonstration together with his supporters and it resulted into a controversy.

Demonstrators did not allow delegates to enter the building and hold foundation conference in it. They were against Otar Mushkudiani’s candidature and blamed him in being passive during pre-election campaign. Moreover, the protesters claimed MP Davit Saganelidze was lobbying Otar Mushkhudiani’s candidature.

“The initiative group of the party nominated me and of course Davit Saganelidze has information about it as he is a secretary general of the party. I was activist of the party before elections and I do not need anybody’s lobbying. I have my supporters among the people, who hold the mandate of the Georgian Dream,” said Otar Mushkudiani.

Georgian Dream’s activists spoke about unfair granting of mandates. “Only 84 people out of 250 applicants for the party membership were allowed to attend the conference and take part in the election of the chairman. It is not fair decision because those 84 people were not on our list and could not be inserted in the online data-base of the party members. So, we request the Central office members to arrive here and explain what really happened there,” said activist Aleksandre Akobidze.

Demonstrators state they would not allow anybody to hold conference in similar conditions and say that former majoritarian candidate of the Georgian Dream Nika Sanodze is most acceptable candidature for the position of the candidature in the local organization. But Nika Sanodze does not see himself on the position at this stage. “Today, the main purpose of our demonstration is to grant mandates to the people, who really supported the party and made tribute to the victory of the party. Initially, the mandates shall be fairly granted and then we will nominate possible candidates for the chairman’s position at the conference.”

The foundation conference of the Khoni district organization of the Georgian Dream- Democratic Georgia was canceled and possible date of the conference was not scheduled yet.