Georgian PM says country “object of particular interest”, with “particular risks”

There are “particular risks” in Georgia due to the country being an “object of particular interest”, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said on Wednesday following the State Security Service’s announcement of an investigation of an alleged plan of assassination of Bidzina Ivanishvili, the Honorary Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party this week.

In his interview with Rustavi 2 TV channel, the head of the Georgian Government highlighted “serious concerns” following the attempted assassinations of Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico in May and the Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump this month.

All this is a matter of special concern, especially on the background of the given mosaic. We must be very cautious with all things considered, with the overall context. There are very serious and high interests toward Georgia, and in these conditions, the country must protect itself and take every preventive measure against any event, and we will do so”, he said.

What happened in Slovakia [and] in the US is a common signature and risks in Georgia are special due to the fact that Georgia is an object of a particular interest, he added.

The Georgian PM said the Service’s announcement was “not surprising” due to Ivanishvili’s “influence” on domestic politics, and claimed “ill-wishers of our country” targeted the party official as he was a “guarantor of peace and development”.

He also called the alleged plan “extremely disturbing” and vowed the Government would “do everything” to prevent such acts”.

Kobakhidze also highlighted a “general warning” by Olivér Várhelyi, the European Union Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, regarding a possible attack on officials during their phone call earlier this year, where the EU official mentioned the threat of “sharing the fate” of the Slovak counterpart.