PM Garibashvili: violence, intimidation ahead of elections unacceptable
PM Irakli Garibashvili calls on all political parties to refrain from provocations ahead of the upcoming municipalelections. Photo: Georgian PM's press office
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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’.
I condemn any form of violence. The Georgian people want peace, stability and welfare. Our population deserves an election campaign, which is in line with our country’s values and proves that our nation is loyal to the idea of democracy”, Garibashvili posted.
He further called on all political parties, their activists and supporters, ‘especially the representatives of radical opposition’, to refrain from provocations, which may trigger violence and cause escalation.
Let’s wait for the election day peacefully when each and every citizen will cast their ballot at the polling stations on October 2 in democratic environment and vote for the stable development of our country”, he added.
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 in Tbilisi earlier today.
Ruling party has released a video of the clash:
The recent reason for the clash between political leaders was a recent incident in Dmanisi where two supporters of the UNM were attacked and stabbed, The son of the GD party’s majoritarian candidate has been detained for the offence.
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 ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party has announced earlier today that it will receive 50.9% of votes in Tbilisi while the largest opposition United National Movement (UNM) party will get 25.2% of the votes in the October 2 self-government elections in Georgia’s capital.
“The United States condemns the violent, seemingly politically motivated attacks which took place yesterday in Dmanisi and Rustavi”, the US Embassy in Georgia has announced.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili is attending the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. PM Garibashvili will address the UNGA on September 24. On the sidelines of the 76th UNGA session PM Garibashvili is holding meetings with foreign counterparts.
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.
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.
The Central Election Commission (CEC) has reported earlier today that the cases of pressure, abuse and threat on the district and precinct election commission members have increased ahead of municipal elections. "In some cases, there has been an attempt by observers to overstep their authority to stage a provocation,” a spokesperson of the CEC Natia Ioseliani stated.