Georgian MMA fighter and government supporter Giorgi Kartvelishvili announced the launch of a “people’s movement” to defend what he called Georgian “values and traditions” and fight against what he described as “foreign-funded” groups with a “pseudo-liberal ideology,” accusing them of attacking Georgian identity and saying the movement’s members would be ready to “go to prison if necessary.”
Speaking alongside his associates at a July 27 briefing at the Georgian Federation of Journalists, Kartvelishvili cited what he called “periodic” and “coordinated attacks” on “our identity, traditions, values and religion,” as well as on “those achievements that, at different times, enriched Georgian culture, guided the Georgian people forward, and defended the homeland at any cost.”
According to him, behind such “campaigns” are often “those with a pseudo-liberal ideology, foreign-funded groups, politicians, so-called activists, media representatives, or people affiliated with them.”
“This confirms that attacks on everything Georgian are not a natural process, but a deliberately planned and artificially fuelled one, which in the modern technological era often takes on an uncontrolled form,” he said, adding that “insulting ancestors, culture and identity that the Georgian people are proud of,” followed by “active discussions and attempts to normalize all this among our population,” aims to “devalue the national values around which the Georgian nation is united.”
“That is why, from today, our initiative group is founding a people’s movement to defend Georgian values and traditions,” he said, “and is beginning a fight against foreign-funded people who are in servile obedience to external interests and those with a distorted ideology, as well as against groups formed by them.” Kartvelishvili welcomed “every patriotic Georgian” to join the initiative.
He said the movement would be “very active,” “solid” and “as constructive as possible.” “However, if it is necessary for the protection of our culture and national identity, we will not shy away from any danger. We are ready to be held accountable for each of our actions and, if necessary, even go to prison,” he concluded.
Reacting to the announcement, Nika Gvaramia, one of the leaders of the opposition Ahali party and the Coalition for Change, called it “an inspiration for mass violence and retaliation in the name of pseudo-morality.”
The announcement came amid fears in opposition-leaning media and groups that it could mark a push for “moral policing,” with critics arguing that the Georgian Dream government would more actively use paid thugs, often referred to as “tituski,” against its critics.
Meanwhile, Georgian Dream MP Archil Gorduladze welcomed the initiative, saying, as quoted by Interpressnews, “It is important and good when people have the desire to defend and raise their voice against targeted actions directed against the country’s culture, faith, people’s rights, and history.” He added, however, that “of course, all of this should take place within the framework of the law and in full compliance with it.”
The announcement came nearly a week after stand-up comedian and anti-government protester Onise Okriashvili was assaulted over a joke in which he mentioned acclaimed 20th-century Georgian writer Nodar Dumbadze alongside profane language. As pro-government media launched a negative campaign against him, portraying the joke as an insult to Dumbadze, Okriashvili explained that it was not an insult but part of a hypothetical discussion illustrating the absurdity of such an insult. The attack followed the campaign. Although authorities arrested one attacker, he was released on bail.
