UNM claims gov’t preparing to detain ex-policemen, PM denies
UNM made statements after former police officials Lekso Rapava and Giorgi Datiashvili were detained earlier this week. Photo: Nino alavidze/Agenda.ge archive
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The opposition United National Movement (UNM) claims that the government of Georgia is preparing a ‘special operation’ in the western Georgian region of Samegrelo to detain former policemen.
UNM leader Nika Melia has stated that around 30 representatives of the State Security Service (SSS) have been sent from the Georgian capital of Tbilisi to the western town of Zugdidi, Samegrelo region ‘to prepare the grounds for detentions’.
Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
Melia also said that the former policemen, who are the alleged targets of detention, support his father Anzor Melia who runs for Zugdidi mayor.
UNM made statements after former police officials Lekso Rapava and Giorgi Datiashvili were detained earlier this week.
Calling the UNM statement disinformation the SSS said that none of the representatives of the service have left the place of their permanent dislocation.
Such disinformation directly aims to cause fear and panic in the society, damage the overall image of the SSS and decrease trust”, the statement reads.
Photo: PM's press office
Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has also denied the UNM’s claims, calling them ‘pure lies’. Garibashvili, who is travelling to western Georgia ahead of the October 30 run-offs with his team, said ‘the time of violence has ended’ in Georgia.
The dirty provocateurs [Nika] Gvaramia, [and] Melia have caused panic… They made up a story which does not exist, which is a pure lie”, pm Garibashvili said.
He further noted that no one in this country will make a revolution and cause unrest.
Political movement Droa leader Elene Khoshtaria and leader of the opposition Lelo for Georgia party Mamuka Khazaradze have signed a coalition cooperation document earlier today ahead of municipal election run-offs slated for October 30.
The Central Election Commission (CEC) has called on the public to participate in the municipal election run-offs which will be held in Georgia on October 30. The CEC announced earlier today that the run-off will be held in 5 self-governing cities, 15 municipalities and 24 election districts.
A second round of municipal elections in Georgia will be held on October 30 as some candidates did not receive enough votes to overcome the mandatory threshold, including in Tbilisi, based on the preliminary results of the Central Election Commission (CEC).
A second round of mayoral elections could be needed in five large cities including Tbilisi where the ruling Georgian Dream party candidate Kakha Kaladze is leading. As of 10 a.m. October 3, the results of 360 precincts out of a total of 769 in Tbilisi are: Kakha Kaladze/Georgian Dream – 45.28% and Nika Melia/United National Movement – 34.27%.
The opposition United National Movement (UNM) party is holding a rally in the Black Sea town of Batumi. Local leader of the party Mirdat Kamadadze said the ruling Georgian Dream party is in minority in Batumi City Council (Sakrebulo).
The Georgian Interior Ministry has launched an investigation into the recent attack on opposition United National Movement (UNM) headquarter in the town of Rustavi. UNM mayoral candidate Davit Kirkitadze reported earlier today that the participants of the October 14 anti-opposition rally were among the offenders.