"Fear the Georgian people!" — and this is not just a slogan — Gocha Mirtskhulava

Analyst Gocha Mirtskhulava writes on social media:

"Tamar Chergoleishvili made a very interesting remark yesterday: 'Everyone should fear the Georgian people—those who have no answer for systemic poverty, for corruption, for emigration and families torn apart, or for children growing up in poverty, raised via video calls.' It is an interesting and, in my view, an extremely precise formulation.

It might seem as though nothing new has been said. We have heard similar sentiments expressed many times before—though usually in the context of expressing regret, sympathy, or demanding accountability from the government: the Georgian people are impoverished, oppressed, suffering, and enduring injustice...

But here, the emphasis has shifted radically: the Georgian people should be feared!

This is no longer a description of the state of a victim; it is an acknowledgment of the power of the people.

And contained within this phrase are two crucial political messages." First, the repressive legislation, political restrictions, and the use of force employed by Ivanishvili and his team are not merely a demonstration of power; in my view, they are also a manifestation of fear. A government confident in its own legitimacy does not expend such effort to suppress the political will of society. Second, this is a profoundly optimistic and deeply meaningful formula: "Fear the Georgian people!" And this is more than just a slogan.

Here, "fear" does not refer to stones, guns, or physical violence. Rather, it signifies a fear of the free citizen—of a society aware of its own rights, of solidarity, and of the political accountability from which no government can shield itself forever.

Thus, the phrase is not directed solely at the authorities; it also serves to remind society itself of its own power. A people who perceive themselves merely as victims struggle to reclaim their role as a political agent. Conversely, a society that recognizes itself as the source of power demands accountability from the government, rather than seeking its charity. This is precisely the core political and philosophical value of this phrase: shifting the direction of fear.

In a democratic state, a citizen should not fear the government. The government, meanwhile, must always remember that being accountable to the people is not a matter of choice—it is an obligation.

The sooner society realizes this, the more feasible it becomes to demand political accountability from those who currently place themselves beyond its reach.

Anyone who cannot answer to the Georgian people should fear them—not because the people threaten anyone, but because the final word belongs to the people themselves.“