Georgian Prime Minister highlights threats to state sovereignty, praises public wisdom in annual parliamentary address

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, in his annual parliamentary address, on Friday reflected on a “very difficult five days” at the end of November and beginning of December last year, during which, he stated, specific violent groups, operating under a pre-planned scheme, challenged state interests and sovereignty.

In his address, Kobakhidze emphasised that his Government would not allow anyone to undermine Georgia's state sovereignty and constitutional order.

He described the events as a “violent attack on state sovereignty and the country's constitutional order”, which was “completely evident and obvious” to have been carried out with external interference.

“We all remember those extremely difficult five days, when specific violent groups, following a premeditated plan, confronted the interests and sovereignty of the state. It was all carried out with clear and evident external interference. We could not and would not allow anyone to undermine state sovereignty and constitutional order”, the PM said.

He described the attempted disruption as a “violent assault on the constitutional order”, adding that the state security and law enforcement agencies acted decisively to neutralise the threat.

“I would like to extend special thanks to our law enforcement bodies - the Ministry of Internal Affairs and every police officer involved - as well as to the State Security Service and all relevant agencies for successfully preventing this attack”, he continued.

The Prime Minister also highlighted the significance of the October 26 parliamentary elections, describing them as highly challenging. He asserted that the Georgian people, through their wisdom, made a fundamental decision in favour of peace.

“In reality, this was truly a referendum, but two different things were at stake: war and peace”, he added.

He concluded by reiterating that it was primarily thanks to the Georgian people's wisdom that the country was currently enjoying peace and continued its stable development.