Georgian PM claims radical opposition mobilising “violent groups” for today's rally against transparency bill

The UNM shares full responsibility for their violent actions, with radical parties organising and leading these actions, along with NGOs and their representatives, the Head of the Government said, urging all citizens to “distance themselves from the violent actions” perpetrated by these groups, which “are driven solely by narrow-party and anti-state motives”. Photo via Government Administration

Agenda.ge, 01 May 2024 - 21:58, Tbilisi,Georgia

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Wednesday claimed that domestic radical opposition was mobilising a 300-member “violent group”, who would “definitely” resort to violence on today’s rally against the controversial bill on transparency of foreign influence.

Kobakhidze alleged about 15 youth organisations, “directly trained for violence”, were financed by David Kezerashvili, the wanted former Defence Minister in the United National Movement Government, Mamuka Khazaradze, the leader of the Lelo for Georgia political party and the co-founder of TBC Bank, and other radical leaders.

The responsibility lies with all those entities, which, for an entire year, glorified violence and its perpetrators, portraying the members of the violent youth groups within the collective UNM as sincere young individuals. Among them are the UNM, Lelo, and Akhali Youth Organisations, comprising approximately 100 violent youths”, he said.

The PM also noted there were other violent groups such as The Wave, Stubborns, Step, Tbilisi Pride, Full Stop, Dafioni, Students for the European Future, Movement for Freedom, Shame, Franklin Club, and Academy of the Future, which “collectively” encompassed around 200 violent youths loyal to the UNM.

Their violent resources will be exhausted in advance before the post-election period”, the PM noted, stressing the UNM and other radical opposition groups would use their chance to radicalise today’s rally and escalate the situation.

The UNM shares full responsibility for their violent actions, with radical parties organising and leading these actions, along with NGOs and their representatives, the Head of the Government said, urging all citizens to “distance themselves from the violent actions” perpetrated by these groups, which “are driven solely by narrow-party and anti-state motives”.

He also pointed out that the radical forces in the country “have been trying to start a civil conflict for many years”.