Ruling party offers deal to minimise pre-election clashes

The ruling Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia (GDDG) Party is appealing to all election players to "take responsibility” and refuse to hold party events when another political group hosts a meeting with its supporters nearby. 

Today GDDG Executive Secretary Irakli Kobakhidze said rival parties hosting election-related events side-by-side "increased the risk” of tension and confrontations in the current calm pre-election environment. 

If political parties took responsibility, these types of risks would be reduced to a minimum,” Kobakhidze said. 

He said GDDG was prepared to send a special memorandum to all political players to sign, but would hold consultation with any person or party if they wished to amend any of the document’s text.

We hope all political parties and groups will join the memorandum,” Kobakhidze said. 

Several days ago Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili spoke about the importance of avoiding conflicts between rival parties.

He said the GDDG would not hold any election meeting with its supporters if any other party planned a meeting at the same time and venue.

The Free Democrats (FD) said it would sign all memoranda that promoted a peaceful and transparent electoral environment, however United National Movement (UNM) said it did not intent to sign the memorandum because it claimed the ruling GDDG team was a major source and threat for provocations.