PM claims radical opposition as “foreign agents” acting against Georgia’s national interests

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Saturday accused members of the domestic radical opposition of being “modern Bolsheviks”, drawing parallels between their methods and those used by the Bolsheviks.

In his remarks, Kobakhidze drew historical parallels, accusing these political actors of continuing the legacy of Sergo Ordzhonikidze, a key Soviet figure instrumental in Georgia’s loss of independence a century ago.

“This is a hostile attitude toward the country, toward our national interests - there’s simply no other explanation for it. You know, about a century ago, ethnic Georgians were acting in the same way against Georgia’s national interests, and it was through the hands of ethnic Georgians that our independence and sovereignty were undermined. Now these people are continuing exactly that same work - the work of Sergo Ordzhonikidze”, the PM said.

The Prime Minister also likened modern political tactics - particularly sanctions - to Bolshevik-era dekulakization, and even drew comparisons to fascist methods.

“They are modern-day Bolsheviks, and it’s no surprise that their methods are very similar to those used by the Bolsheviks. One of the key tactics characteristic of the Bolsheviks was dekulakization, and sanctions are essentially a modernised form of that. This is the same signature, the same pattern used in the past by the Bolsheviks and later by the fascists. This is exactly what our radical opposition representatives are doing now - the methods are the same, the attitude is the same”, he noted.

“They are foreign agents, and that’s precisely why they are acting on orders against Georgia’s national interests”, Kobakhidze concluded.