Georgian PM: October election “decisive referendum where Georgian people must choose between war and peace”

Irakli Kobakhidze, the Prime Minister of Georgia and the Head of the ruling Georgian Dream party election staff, on Saturday called the October 26 general elections a “decisive referendum where the Georgian people must choose between war and peace”.

Addressing the public in an election campaign event in Gori, in central Georgia's Shida Kartli region the top official said Georgians would “very clearly say no to war and choose peace, which was a “necessary condition” for Georgia's progress and development.

Who but you, the residents of Shida Kartli know the price of peace better than anyone. You experienced the pain related to the 2008 war [with Russia ] the hardest on yourself - the pain brought to Georgia and this side by the treacherous crime of the previous government. [ ] Shida Kartli preserves the most precious heritage of our country, numerous churches and monasteries, which remind us how important it is to take care of each pillar of our national identity - land, language and faith”, he emphasised. 

In his address, the official called the October 26 election a “crucial referendum” where people must also “choose between immoral propaganda and traditional values”, adding he was sure  Georgians would make a “clear choice in this case as well and refuse any attempt to erase human dignity and will choose traditional values”.

Kobakhidze  noted the choice of Georgian people to become a member of the European family only with peace, dignity and prosperity, noting the country would “definitely achieve this goal”. 

He also slammed the opposition, saying until 2012, Georgia was ruled by the “Union of Stateless People”, a “foreign agency” that committed many crimes against the Georgian state and society. 

Kobakhidze credited Bidzina Ivanishvili, the party’s Founder and Honorary Chairman, for the achievements, calling him a person who “put the bloody regime in the past and brought a democratic transition to Georgia”.

Many thanks to Mr. Bidzina Ivanishvili for establishing Georgia as a democratic state and for the continuous 12-year peace, which has already brought Georgia great progress and will bring similar progress in the future”, he added.

Turning to the achievements of the ruling party, the PM highlighted the progress made since 2012, when the GD took power, and noted a series of accomplishments, saying ”these are the achievements that we should cherish and on which we should base the future development of our country”.

Kobakhidze emphasised that if the people “stood together to protect their national identity - estate, language and faith, no one could defeat” the country.