Ruling party official warns against “illegal” Gov’t change, election interference
Kaladze’s comments followed President Salome Zourabichvili on Wednesday highlighting the threat of Russian “propaganda” and its possible interference in the elections. Photo: Georgian Dream Press Office
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Kakha Kaladze, the Mayor of Tbilisi and the Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Thursday warned against attempts of “illegal” change of the Government and interference in the parliamentary elections in October.
Kaladze’s comments followed President Salome Zourabichvili on Wednesday highlighting the threat of Russian “propaganda” and its possible interference in the elections.
In his remarks, Kaladze stressed the elections would be “conducted democratically” and “no country” would be “able to bring chaos”.
“No-one will be given the opportunity to bring tension to the elections”, he said.
The official added that a change of government should “occur solely through elections and citizens’ decisions”.
Levan Davitashvili, the Georgian Minister of Economy and the First Vice Premier, on Wednesday pledged the electoral environment in the country would be “as transparent as possible” ahead of the parliamentary elections in October.
Paweł Herczyński, the Ambassador of the European Union to Georgia, said the bloc was “very pleased” that the Georgian Government had invited the Organisation for Security and Co-Operation in Europe Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights to observe the upcoming parliamentary elections in the country.
Peter Fischer, the German Ambassador to Georgia, on Friday said he hoped and believed Georgia would hold free, fair and competitive parliamentary elections in 2024.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Tuesday said new electoral legislation, electronic voting and “extensive monitoring” would ensure holding the upcoming parliamentary elections in “a free and fair environment”.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Thursday said the European Union “has to officially distance itself” from “slanderous” allegations made my members of the European Parliament, in response to an amendment introduced by MEP Anna Fotyga to a resolution to urge the Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili to pardon the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili.
Mamuka Mdinaradze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party in the Parliament, on Thursday said the parliamentary majority would present a legislative initiative to “protect the public from pseudo-liberal ideology”.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Friday called executive bodies of the European Union to “distance themselves from unfair decisions” in the European Parliament, in response to an amendment introduced by MEP Anna Fotyga to a resolution to urge the Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili to pardon the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili.
Kakha Kaladze, the Mayor of Tbilisi and the Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Monday dismissed calls by some members of the European Parliament for release of the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili by saying Georgia was “not a country to be looked down on”.