Georgian Dream Leaders Address Student Protest Against Irakli Kobakhidze
By Liza Mchedlidze
Monday, June 12, 2023
Chairman of the Georgian Dream, Irakli Kobakhidze, addressed the protest held against him at Tbilisi State University, during which Russian rubles were thrown at him. Kobakhidze claimed that it was not a student protest, but rather a provocation orchestrated by "Formula" TV company. He further asserted that there were young individuals with 'confused orientations' involved in the incident.
Kobakhidze emphasized the need to 'correct' all aspects of the young people's orientations, including their political beliefs. He stated that it is their responsibility to undertake this task and that they will spare no effort in achieving it, with the ultimate goal of 'saving' these young individuals.
"This was a provocation arranged by "Formula" TV company. They were the ones who came to film this so-called incident. In fact, there were several young people affiliated with 'Formula' who have all kinds of confused orientations.
Our goal should be to save these young people. I believe it is possible to save them. I am sure we can get them on the right track.
These young people... who stood in front of the Parliament a few days ago and made insulting statements towards the Prime Minister. Their studentship has nothing to do with this.
I will reiterate that there were some young people, young people affiliated with Formula. Their orientation is all messed up. I think that these people should be guided onto the right track. Boys should find wives, and girls should get married and reproduce, etc.
All their orientations, starting from political ones, should be corrected. This is our task. We will do everything to accomplish it and save these young people," said Irakli Kobakhidze.
Mamuka Mdinaradze, the Executive Secretary of Georgian Dream, also commented on the student protest against Irakli Kobakhidze. According to Mdinaradze, he believes that 'representatives of minoritie' are being manipulated as tools against Kobakhidze. Furthermore, he asserted that what he referred to as 'LGBT propaganda' has a detrimental impact on society, emphasizing that the government should 'confront it openly'.
In response to the question regarding the involvement of LGBTQ+ community representatives in the protest against Irakli Kobakhidze, Mamuka Mdinaradze stated that they are being used as part of a larger plan against Kobakhidze. He suggested that the utilization of 'representatives of minorities' in this manner is intentional.
