Georgia’s ruling party official says opposition seeking to replace electoral defeat with chaos

Levan Machavariani, an MP from the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Tuesday assessed the recent developments outside the ruling party’s campaign office in the capital city of Tbilisi, noting that the opposition was aware of its impending defeat in the upcoming elections and was therefore seeking to shift the political process into “civil confrontation and chaos”.

“All this has become systematic. These are well-thought-out and organised provocations by the [opposition] United National Movement party. Our task is to secure victory in Tbilisi in the first round”, he said.

“Their [the opposition’s] aggression stems from the fact that they know they will be overwhelmingly defeated by the Georgian Dream. They do not want the real result to be exposed and are trying to drag the process into chaos and confrontation, but I can say with certainty that they will not succeed”, Machavariani concluded.

The remarks follow renewed protests on Tuesday outside the campaign headquarters of Tbilisi Mayor and ruling party candidate Kakha Kaladze. Demonstrators shouted insults, attempted to provoke staff inside the office, and damaged an election banner.

During the rally, members of radical groups also clashed with journalists from media outlets they consider unfavourable.