Georgia’s ruling party official assesses confrontation outside campaign office as “deliberate, well-planned” provocation, orchestrated from outside

Levan Machavariani, an MP from the ruling Georgian Dream party and the head of the Tbilisi election headquarters of the ruling party, on Tuesday described the recent confrontation between opposition activists and members of the Georgian Dream election headquarters as a “deliberate, well-planned provocation orchestrated from outside through fascists and UNM-affiliated goons, who gather near the headquarters almost daily to stage targeted provocations”.

In his remarks, Machavariani emphasised that everyone can see the verbal abuse from opposition activists approaching the Georgian Dream headquarters, making it difficult to control those inside the building.

“Everyone can see that this is a deliberate, well-planned provocation, managed from the outside by those fascists and UNM-affiliated goons who practically gather at the headquarters every day and stage a deliberate provocation”, the ruling party official said.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs has launched an investigation under the article concerning group violence after the clashes near the election headquarters of Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze.

According to reports, activists used hate speech and insults directed at party members and supporters present at the headquarters. The altercation escalated into a physical confrontation. Two journalists were reportedly injured during the incident.