GD-Expelled MP Joins Alliance of Patriots

Former member of the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party, David Chichinadze, who was expelled from the party mid-July for “disrespecting teammates,” has decided to join the Alliance of Patriots of Georgia (APG).

Chichinadze says he joined the APG for a short time, to “save their faction from falling apart.”

APG, which is often referred to as “the satellite of Russia” in Georgia, saw their faction Chair and one of the most active members, Nato Chkheidze, quit mid-September.

Chkheidze is the founder of Iberia TV, which might be closed down because its donor company Omega Group has financial crises, owing GEL 51 million to the state budget for not paying taxes. She stated the government is pressurizing the TV station and that the APG members did not support her and Iberia TV at all.

After Chkheidze left, the APG faction faced collapse because they had only five seats in the parliament and after their Chair quit, they needed to find someone to replace her.

“I will stay in the faction until the new year. After the election period is over, I think they will be able to find a permanent member. They have negotiations with various lawmakers. I will be in the faction without any political restrictions. I was even obliged to help an opposition party from falling apart and losing their voice,” Chichinadze explained.

Before being expelled from the GD party, Chichinadze made acute and critical statements towards the majority, slamming the government, a number of the implemented or planned reforms, and even reiterating many times the necessity to hold snap elections. It is known he did not like the Parliament Chair, Irakli Kobakhidze, who represents the leader of the young wing of the GD.

By Thea Morrison

Related stories:

Ruling Party Expels MP Chichinadze

Ruling GD Expels MP Chichinadze from Party for “Disrespecting” Teammates

Georgia’s Alliance of Patriots in Crisis as Faction Chair Quits Party