PM says elections should be held in “peaceful, calm” environment following assault on opposition leader

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Monday said the upcoming parliamentary elections should be held in a “peaceful and calm environment”, in comments that followed an assault on Nika Melia, one of the leaders of the opposition Ahali party, on Sunday during his campaign visit to the western city of Samtredia.

It is fundamentally important that the elections are held in a peaceful and calm environment. Of course, any such incident is unacceptable”, Kobakhidze said.

The PM also said the goal of ensuring a peaceful environment for the vote was “fundamentally important”, “in particular” for the ruling Georgian Dream party, and called on the public to “refrain from such acts”.

The elections are scheduled for October 26.