Tbilisi “opposition rally” “failed”, says Georgian PM

Irakli Kobakhidze, the Prime Minister of Georgia, on Monday claimed a rally organised by the domestic civil sector and involving citizens in capital Tbilisi on Sunday, ahead of the October 26 general elections, had been an “opposition” event and had “failed”. 

Speaking to the press following the march, titled Georgia Chooses the European Union, the official claimed “absence of the public” at the event meant the “radical opposition” had “effectively lost the elections a week before the vote”. 

Freedom Square was not full yesterday”, he claimed, alleging footage of previous rallies had been broadcast to “cover up the poor attendance”. 

"When you hold a demonstration at a specific location and cannot fill it, [it means] the demonstration has failed”, he added, noting “all opposition parties, NGOs and President Salome Zourabichvili” had united to support the rally “but could not muster a large enough crowd to fill the square”.

Kobakhidze also claimed the opposition “lacks public support”, and that they were not engaged in election campaigning across the country.  

He went on to describe the current election environment in Georgia as "unprecedentedly calm”, suggesting the opposition was resorting to “releasing misinformation to undermine the legitimacy of the electoral process”. 

The PM further highlighted “the only thing left for the radical opposition is to spread information saturated with lies”.