The Georgian opposition party Girchi is changing its name and will henceforth be known as the Party of Free People. The political organization released a statement to this effect on social media today, September 7.
“We have always been a party of free people.
We chose the name ‘Girchi’ (‘Pinecone’) to express the idea of freedom through a neutral image that would be easy for people to remember.
Apparently, the idea succeeded, as in recent years two other parties have adopted this same name besides us (even though neither has anything to do with freedom).
Our opponents actively capitalize on this confusion, routinely attributing completely foreign statements or stances to us.
There are instances where people who have nothing to do with us or with freedom are portrayed as our supporters or activists.
All of this shapes a false perception of us among the public while simultaneously damaging the very cause for which our party was originally founded.
We have decided to put an end to this and turn a new page in our political life—to call ourselves what we truly are, what we have always been, and what we will remain in the future: the Party of Free People,” the statement reads.
Under the Organic Law of Georgia “On Political Associations of Citizens,” registering changes requires the party to apply to the National Agency of Public Registry and submit the relevant documentation.
Currently, the party is officially registered in the political parties registry as the “New Political Center”—with “Girchi” serving as its abbreviated form. Meanwhile, the same word is present in the name of Zurab Japaridze’s party, “Girchi – More Freedom,” which previously splintered off from the core party. The word “Girchi” also featured in the 2024 electoral bloc named the “Coalition for Change: Gvaramia, Melia, Girchi, Droa,” which unites several opposition parties.
