Georgia’s ruling party Sec Gen: Georgia will never be governed from outside

Kakha Kaladze, the Mayor of Tbilisi and Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday commented on a recent meeting of the domestic opposition figures Giga Bokeria and Gia Baramidze at the British Embassy, suggesting that the opposition politicians were likely receiving directives from their “patrons”.

In his remarks, Kaladze criticised the diplomatic corps for fueling division and confrontation within Georgian society.

“When we talk about the involvement of [foreign] diplomats and their connections to these violent groups, the British Embassy is certainly one of the leading actors, inciting societal division, confrontation, and attempts to stage revolutions in the country. It is no surprise that Bokeria and Baramidze were at the British Embassy, probably taking instructions from their patrons”, the ruling party official said.

Kaladze also responded to a statement by British Member of Parliament James McCleary regarding possible sanctions on Bidzina Ivanishvili, the Honorary Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, and the release of protesters detained during demonstrations.

“How many times should Bidzina Ivanishvili be sanctioned? The statements and examples cited are entirely based on lies, falsehoods, and slander. This is the unfortunate reality today. Who is a political prisoner? Someone who throws a Molotov cocktail at a police officer or hits them with a stick? I see everything that happens. A young person attacks a police officer who is there to maintain public order, attempts to burn people alive, and yet these people are glorified as heroes. Do you not see this is one-sided?” he continued.

He concluded by emphasising that Georgia was governed by its own people and not influenced from abroad.

“Our partner is the Georgian people, and no one should think this country can be run from outside. That will never happen. Statements from European parliamentarians, officials, or representatives of the UK, which you cite as examples, are based on lies, falsehoods, and slander”, he concluded.