Mamuka Mdinaradze, one of the leaders of Georgian Dream, responded to criticism regarding the inclusion of athletes in the ruling party's election list by stating that politics is "everyone's business," including that of athletes.
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"Politics is everyone's business - whether you're an athlete, a lawyer, or a doctor, it's everyone's business. It's about who decides and who successfully consults to continue a very successful career in politics. Politics concerns everyone, all people. Whose business is it then?! You are now involved in politics. If you decide to support any party tomorrow, should some people organize fascist bullying against you? Is that a far-fetched scenario? No, it's stupidity, it's cunning, and it's the incredible logic that a bitter, disillusioned agency posted on social media yesterday," Mdinaradze told journalists.
Georgian Dream presented the first group of its election list for the October 26 parliamentary elections, with Olympic champions also included in the top ten. Weightlifter Lasha Talakhadze was listed seventh, and wrestler Geno Petriashvili was listed tenth.
Thirty-one-year-old Lasha Talakhadze, who became a three-time Olympic champion on August 11, stated that he chose to stand by a team that "maintained peace in the country" and "will lead the way to Europe with pride and dignity."
Freestyle wrestler Geno Petriashvili noted that he remains active in sports: "Sports will always be part of my life. It's just that now I need time to heal my injuries."
The ruling party is also aiming to include former athletes in parliament. Recently, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze nominated former judoka and Rio Olympic Games vice-champion Varlam Lipartiliani as the Samgori district representative, Zuka Rurua, former captain of the national water polo team and national coach, as the Vaki district representative, and former rugby player Davit Kacharava as the Mtatsminda-Krtsanisi district representative. Kacharava, a member of parliament for the 2020-2024 term, represents a branch of the ruling party, People's Power. The Gori-Kaspi delegate is Vladimir Khinchegashvili, the current mayor of Gori and former Rio Olympic wrestling champion.
On April 4, after Georgian Dream reintroduced the Russian-style foreign agents law, Mamuka Mdinaradze urged the public not to involve football or football players in politics. "There's no greater harm than that, and I call on everyone, and we will do the same, to leave those boys and the Georgian national team out of political fights. In short, let's leave the athletes alone," Mdinaradze said.
