Georgia’s ruling party Sec Gen rejects opposition’s “peaceful overthrow” narrative as ridiculous

Kakha Kaladze, the Mayor of Tbilisi and Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Friday dismissed the domestic opposition’s claims of planning a so-called peaceful overthrow of the Government, calling it “complete nonsense and a bluff”.

In his remarks, Kaladze warned that any illegal actions would be met with a strong legal response.

“This is complete nonsense and a bluff. Let someone dare to act against the law. Everyone who commits a crime will be severely punished within the framework of the law. Of course, there will be a response to everything - everyone who commits a crime will be severely punished within the framework of the law”, Kaladze said.

The official further noted that the opposition lacks the resources and public support necessary to carry out such plans, either in the capital or in the regions.

“These people have no resources. When you are in politics and lack the support and backing of your people, your value as a politician is zero. Look, they have no support either in the capital or in the regions. They go abroad and meet someone – what are you doing abroad, my dear, when it’s an election campaign and elections are in two weeks? But they have no resources. Have you heard anything sensible from them in recent years regarding the country or politics? All you hear is vulgarity, threats, insults, violence, and slander - that’s the opposition. Take someone like Khoshtaria, for example; no one even remembers Elene Khoshtaria as a politician, but through this vandalism, she wants to remind society of herself”, he noted.

In response to a journalist’s question about the United National Movement’s alleged plans to mobilise at polling stations and interfere with voters, Kaladze stated that such actions would also be considered illegal.