12 January 2008, 12:16
Levan Gachechiladze: Georgia's fate is at stake; the country should be saved
"The fight goes on, and I'll never reconcile with injustice. The fight is not about me. The destiny of the country is at stake, our homeland needs salvation. The today's injustice gives rise to my aggression," Levan Gachechiladze, candidate from the United Opposition, said live in the "Prime Time" program on "Rustavi-2" Channel on January 10.
"We needed to hold a hunger strike and a protest action to get access to the audience of the "Public Channel", which is financed from citizens' pockets. Saakashvili had been so much in the television screen, including on the voting day, and when on January 5 I was holding my briefing at midnight, three TV Companies - 'Rustavi-2', 'Mze' and 'Public Channel' - went away saying they had no more news broadcasts on that day. However, on the same day they broadcast Saakashvili's victorious festivity on the outcomes of exit polls," he said.
"The fight continues, there are many ways for protest - manifestations, hunger strikes, etc., but all of them will be peaceful. I'll never go to concessions, it's out of question. I note here that from November 7 till today about 500 our supporters have been detained," Mr Gachechiladze has added.
As to the international estimate, according to Gachechiladze, the same observers had recognized the 2003 parliamentary elections to be legitimate, and then, already after the "Revolution of Roses", admitted that they had been forged.
Author: Edita Badasian, CK correspondent
