On May 27, the pro-Kremlin publication, Tbilisi24, carried an article titled “Exclusive: Zourabichvili’s government!” According to the article, within the scope of the Georgian charter proposed by the President to the political opposition, Salome Zourabichvili and representatives of the opposition have agreed to create an “interim, technocratic government” and have almost finalized discussions on the nomination of ministers and other high-ranking officials. The author of the article provides information about those representatives of the opposition and civil society who will hold various positions in the government.
The director of the publication, Gocha Nachkebia, posted the article in Facebook groups: We support Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili!!!; Protest; Bidzina Ivanishvili’s supporters; No to COVID-fascism!; არა კოაბიტაციას! No cohabitation! Pas de cohabitation!
The list of candidates for the “provisional government” circulated on Facebook has not been confirmed. The presidential administration, as well as the opposition political parties – the United National Movement, Girchi – More Freedom, and European Georgia, denied that they had discussed anything of the kind and, accordingly, made a decision. Moreover, on the day the charter was presented, the President said that a “different kind of government” would not be made up of political parties but would consist of people selected from society according to their professionalism.
The pro-Kremlin publication “Tbilisi 24” and its director, Gocha Nachkebia, disseminated the information without providing any evidence. In reality, no such issue was discussed between President Salome Zourabichvili and the oppositional political parties, and, consequently, no distribution of positions took place, as the author of the article claims.
The Myth Detector has reached the opposition political parties and the President’s Administration. The President’s Administration informed the Myth Detector that the mentioned issue had not been discussed. The same was confirmed by the opposition parties – the United National Movement, Girchi-More Freedom, and European Georgia, whose representatives were named as agreed candidates for various public positions.
Salome Zourabichvili presented the idea of the “Georgian charter” to the political opposition and society at large on May 26, during an event on the occasion of Georgia’s Independence Day. As the President explained, the charter envisages a “different kind of unity” – “unity without unification,” which, according to her, envisages unity only around the charter, i.e., Georgia’s European future. During the presentation, the President herself stated that the “Georgian Charter” excludes drawing up unified lists or other political unification. According to Salome Zourabichvili, after answering the question whether we want Europe or not, a “different kind of parliament” will be formed, which will take care of fulfilling the obligations in various spheres assumed under the charter (including the cancellation of the so-called law on agents and the offshore law, the implementation of judicial reform, etc.) and then return the mandate to the voters and hold early elections. Speaking of a “different kind of government,” Zourabicvhilil also said:
“It will be a completely new model of government. It will not be a government made up of political parties, but a government selected and distinguished for professionalism in society. The process of staffing the government will be carried out in coordination with the president.”
Consequently, contrary to the assertion of the pro-Kremlin media, both the Presidential Administration and the political opposition state that there was no discussion about a “provisional government.” In May 26, i.e., on the very day of the presentation, Salome Zourabichvili said that a “different kind of government” would not be composed of political parties, but of people selected by professionalism from society.
About “Tbilisi 24:” The news agency, Tbilisi 24 Ltd., was registered in the Public Registry on March 26, 2015. It’s owners are Gocha Nachkebia (50%) and Maia Shaishmelashvili (50%). Gocha Nachkebia is simultaneously the director of “Tbilisi 24.” The media website regularly disseminates articles against the West, Ukraine, and the political opposition. The Myth Detector has verified the information released by the media in the past as well. Besides, in 2017, the Ministry of Penitentiary concluded an information dissemination contract with “Tbillisi 24,” whose director, Gocha Nachkebia, had close ties with Vladimer Bedukadze, the author of prison footage.
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