Berdia Sichinava, a member of the For Georgia party of former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, announced on August 11 that his organisation expelled Nugzar Shushania and Maka Chartia from the Khobi Municipality Local Council for accepting bribes and being recruited by the ruling Georgian Dream party. Sichinava stressed that the Georgian Dream aggressively continues the goal-oriented struggle against our political party throughout Georgia, including through the usurpation of political power in the municipalities and by using illegal methods in which representatives of the criminal world are actively involved at a time when Georgia's sovereignty, independence, and its European perspective are under threat because of the ruling party's policy.
"Unfortunately, some people cannot withstand, but we have examples of worthwhile struggles, such as that of one of our party’s founders, the majoritarian deputy of Tsalenjikha Sakrebulo [Municipality Local Council], Gela Abuladze, who remains illegally imprisoned to date," he added. "These actions of the Georgian Dream cannot be an obstacle for us. We will continue to fight for the development of the country and for the European future," he concluded.
On August 12, Shushania wrote on Facebook that he was leaving the party of his own volition and cited the recent statements and actions of Giorgi Gakharia and his team as the reason, which step-by-step follows the narrative of the United National Movement, complements its movement, and helps it. Shushania stated that he will have nothing to do with the group of politicians who sold the interests of the country and their own dignity to join the party associated with the country's greatest misfortune, betrayal, and gross human rights violations.
Also, it was reported that Shushania was elected as the chairperson of the Khobi Local Council, which For Georgia had alleged was part of the deal offered to him by the ruling party in exchange for his loyalty. Shushania was elected with the support of 21 members of the local council.
