Parliament Speaker, Defence Minister slam Lelo opposition’s “radical campaign” against ruling party founder

Chikovani said the claims by the Lelo leader, which he called "encouragement for repressions", were “reminiscent of tactics” employed by the previous United National Movement Government. Photo: Defence Ministry press office 

Agenda.ge, 15 Feb 2024 - 13:34, Tbilisi,Georgia

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili and Defence Minister Irakli Chikovani on Thursday criticised what they described as a "radical agenda" of the Lelo opposition party, alleging the campaign aimed to target Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party who recently returned to domestic politics as the party’s Honorary Chair.

The criticism followed recent statements made by Mamuka Khazaradze, the founder of the Lelo party, and release of social media banners depicting Ivanishvili with slogans suggesting his "return to Russia" following the upcoming October general elections, in reference to his business activities in the country in the 1990s.

Chikovani said the claims, which he called "encouragement for repressions", were “reminiscent of tactics” employed by the previous United National Movement Government, and claimed the alignment of Lelo with UNM. 

He went on to allege “certain domestic opposition groups” shared “sentiments” with UNM, “adopting its approach” to governance and seeking to create a "negative political landscape". 

Papuashvili, in his press comments, criticised Khazaradze for “spearheading a campaign of threats against Ivanishvili personally", particularly through visual representations in social media posts. 

He claimed it was "almost comical” when a “party with a mere two percent public approval rating talks about coming to power", in reference to Lelo figures in polling.