Bokuchava: SSS Crackdown on UNM Linked to Party's Rising Ratings

Bokuchava's comments came in response to former President Mikheil Saakashvili's statement yesterday, which claimed the State Security Service intended to accuse and arrest UNM leaders for an attempted coup.

"Mikheil Saakashvili spoke about the SSS's attempts to infiltrate the party several months ago," Bokuchava said. "I want to tell you with full responsibility, as the chairperson of this party, I will not allow SSS infiltration into the United National Movement, which aims to discredit and marginalize Bidzina Ivanishvili's main opponent."

According to Tina Bokuchava, the State Security Service's increased activity against the UNM is linked to the party's growing ratings and the "very sincere and true struggle" of the party's youth.

"The SSS's particular activation is, of course, related to the National Movement's growing ratings – especially in recent months, due to the consistent, principled, and uncompromising actions we carry out daily inside and outside the country.

Ivanishvili's SSS mankurts shouldn't forget that the United National Movement is precisely the political force that brought the most significant breakthrough in Georgia's modern history through a popular and completely peaceful revolution.

Ivanishvili's mankurts must understand very well, including the words we read yesterday in President Saakashvili's letter, where he said that 'our task is to create the widest possible protest front and change the government through offensive, but peaceful actions. Everyone who preaches otherwise is either sent by Ivanishvili or is simply a provocateur.'

Today, the path to victory lies in a nationwide, large-scale, and peaceful protest, where all actors, and especially political and public leaders, approach each of their words with the greatest responsibility.

The date of a revolution is not artificially set and announced beforehand. A bet should not be placed on one date, and the incorrect management of public expectations is completely unjustified. 

This is, in my opinion, irresponsibility, which is also perceived extremely negatively in the West, with whom we constantly maintain contact, and most importantly, it feeds and strengthens the lurking Russian-Georgian Dream propaganda.

Real struggle with the regime requires constant resistance, daily work, and managing expectations, where there is also an element of surprise. This party knows best how to do this, having already once defeated autocracy through action and party-public consolidation. This is precisely the path to victory today – consistent, rational, yet uncompromising and principled actions, where the consolidation and unity of democratic forces are critically important.

These actions include non-cooperation with the regime; complete political and social isolation of the regime both domestically and internationally; nationwide resistance through continuous, firm, and large-scale protest, exemplified by the 245-day continuous protest on Rustaveli Avenue and all future large-scale actions, such as the August 2 rally in Batumi; severe individual sanctions against Ivanishvili personally and members of his regime; and the real consolidation and unity of democratic political forces around these objectives,” stated Bokuchava.

The UNM chairperson concluded by saying that the SSS's arrest of Lasha Tsanava was not unexpected. "As the President noted, we should expect much larger-scale provocations," she added.

The SSS accuses Lasha Tsanava of fraudulently appropriating $2,650 from a foreign citizen in exchange for promising to secure a residence permit in Georgia. The investigation is ongoing under Article 19, 180, Part 2, Sub-point "b" of the Criminal Code, which covers attempted fraud causing significant damage. The crime is punishable by a fine or imprisonment for 4 to 7 years.