Ruling party, opposition leaders clash after meeting with EU ambassadors [VIDEO]
The UNM leader Nika Melia called the GD head Irakli Kobakhidze ‘Bidzina Ivanishvili’s (founder of the GD) slave’ while Kobakhidze responded to Melia by calling him an ‘unintelligent scoundrel.’ Photo: IPN.
Tweet 
Share
The ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party head Irakli Kobakhidze and the United National Movement (UNM) party leader Nika Melia have clashed near the office of the European Union Delegation to Georgia on Chavchavadze Avenue, Tbilisi earlier today after the ruling party finished its meeting with foreign diplomats.
Kobakhidze stated that the main topic of the assembly was the election environment, noting that he cannot discuss the details of the meeting.
The incident between the political leaders took place when Nika Melia approached Kobakhidze who was being interviewed by the journalists regarding the meeting. Both politicians verbally insulted each other which led to physical tension on the spot.
Video: Netgazeti.ge.
Melia called Kobakhidze ‘Bidzina Ivanishvili’s (founder of the GD) slave’ while Kobakhidze responded to Melia by calling him an ‘unintelligent scoundrel.’
The recent incident in Dmanisi was the reason for the clash between political leaders which took place on September 21 where two supporters of the UNM were attacked and stabbed. The son of the GD party’s majoritarian candidate Davit Dautashvili has been detained yesterday for the offence.
The UNM supporters had injuries to the face and head.
The ruling party claimed that the physical confrontation in Dmanisi took place between the supporters of the UNM and called it a 'provocation.'
Kobakhidze also stated that the issue of alleged leaked files from the State Security Service (SSS) was not discussed at the meeting.
Thousands of files containing the personal data of clerics, politicians, journalists and foreign diplomats obtained via alleged illegal surveillance were published on the internet more than a week ago and sent to various media outlets.
Less than 10 days are left before the self-government election in Georgia which will take place on October 2.
The leader of the United National Movement opposition party (UNM) Nika Melia was refused bail earlier today. The Judge of Tbilisi City Court Nino Chakhnashvili dismissed Melia from the courtroom because Melia called her ‘a slave’ (of the current government). The opposition parties which have been demanding Melia’s release for about two months have stated earlier today that the government ‘is not willing to ease the current political tension’ and that Melia ‘remains a political prisoner.’
Police have detained 28-year-old Davit Dautashvili for stabbing two supporters of the opposition United National Movement party in Georgia’s eastern Dmanisi municipality, reports the Interior Ministry.
Acting Mayor of Dmanisi in the Kvemo Kartli region Giorgi Tatuashvili says local members of the ruling Georgian Dream party attacked two opposition supporters during his election meeting in the village of Gantiadi earlier today.
Opposition United National Movement party member Nika Melia, who is charged with incitement to violence during the recent Tbilisi protests, will have to wear an electronic bracelet to be monitored, as the Court of Appeals did not change the decision of Tbilisi City Court earlier today and accepted Melia’s release on bail.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili condemns any form of violence and intimidation ahead of the October 2 municipal elections. Garibashvili, who is attending the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, wrote on Facebook that violence and intimidation ‘is unacceptable from any person, group and party’.
EU Ambassador to Georgia Carl Hartzell has responded to the recent clash between the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party head Irakli Kobakhidze and the United National Movement (UNM) party leader Nika Melia and has urged ‘all sides to exercise restraint’ ahead of the local self-government elections. "Next week on election day, all Georgian voters should enjoy a peaceful environment, allowing them to exercise their democratic right by casting their ballots freely, safely and without fear of violence or intimidation,” Ambassador Hartzell stated.
Besarion Bendeliani, opposition For Georgia party mayor candidate in Tsageri claims his car has been shot at last night. "I went out and saw that my car was damaged, [it was] shot at. There was no sound [although] it is a very densely populated place", Bendeliani said. He connects the assault with his political activities.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani has stated that the country’s foreign partners and diplomats ‘must be fair in their assessment of events’ following EU Ambassador to Georgia Carl Hartzell’s response to a recent clash between the ruling party and opposition leaders. Hartzell urged ‘all sides to exercise restraint’ ahead of the municipal elections in response to the confrontation between the ruling GD party head Kobakhidze and the UNM party leader Melia.