Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili is appealing to all people in Georgia – political players and the general public – to remain calm during the elections.
This evening Kvirikashvili made a formal announcement noting he had tasked the Ministry of Internal Affairs to use "all legal measures” to prevent and avoid any election-related stir and tensions.
I wish to instruct the Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia to use every potential instrument prescribed by national legislation to avoid any confrontation,” Kvirikashvili said.
Please mobilize all resources to this end—regardless of who is involved—especially if the opposition forces are at risk of violence. However, ruling party representatives should also enjoy the same legitimate rights. They need to be protected also."
I reiterate that we are a political power most interested in maintaining public order in the country by holding transparent and democratic elections. If anyone is interested in maintaining stability, it is, first of all, the Government,"
Kvirikashvili also addressed local authorities and supporters of the ruling Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia (GDDG) party to ensure "equal conditions” for all election participants.
Any potential violence in the pre-election process will only negatively affect the image of the government,” Kvirikashvili said.
He stressed during the past four years while in power, the GDDG-led Government had introduced "fundamentally new and democratic standards,” unlike those under the previous United National Movement (UNM)-led government.
Our attitude is completely different [from UNM], we are convinced that we can create an essentially different electoral environment,” Kvirikashvili said.
He stressed the current Government had invited an "unprecedented number” of foreign observers to monitor the pre-election period and evaluate the positive changes the current authorities provided over the last four years.
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