Opposition Initiates Impeachment of Gori Municipal Council Chairman
By Liza Mchedlidze
Friday, August 22, 2025
Opposition parties have initiated legal procedures to impeach David Razmadze, Chairman of the Gori Municipal Council, following remarks he made in an interview with The New York Times.
Beka Korchilava, a member of the United National Movement (UNM) in the council, stated that the party initiated the process in response to Razmadze's comments about the 2008 conflict in Georgia. "The statement made by David Razmadze is shameful and an insult to the people of Gori. He accuses our fighters, security forces, and peaceful citizens of looting the city. This is utterly unimaginable and disgraceful," Korchilava said.
He added that the UNM is consulting with the Gakharia for Georgia party on Razmadze's removal. "We started the procedures today and are holding consultations. By the end of the day, we will submit an official statement. If others oppose or abstain, the UNM will still register the statement and demand the resignation of the Municipal Council Chairman," he said.
Lelo - Strong Georgia criticized not only Razmadze but also senior government officials for making statements that insult national dignity. "We demand and support the impeachment of Razmadze. This is the only correct measure that should be taken now," said the party's Foreign Secretary, Grigol Gegelia.
The Gakharia for Georgia party also confirmed its support for the impeachment. "Our faction in the Gori City Council will support the impeachment of the chairman of the city council," the party said in a statement.
Razmadze's remarks appeared in a New York Times article titled "How Georgia Fell From the Vanguard of Democracy to the Front Line of Autocracy." In the interview, he said, "The Russians came here as peacekeepers, and thank God they did, because Misha's thugs were looting the entire city," blaming former President Mikheil Saakashvili for the 2008 August Russian aggression.
