Georgian Parliament official warns radical opposition: only elections constitutional path to power

David Matikashvili, an MP from the ruling Georgian Dream party and Chair of the Georgian Parliament’s Committee on Procedural Issues and Rules, on Monday stressed that elections were the only legal means for any political force to gain power through securing the public’s trust.

Matikashvili commented on the recent meeting between the opposition leaders Paata Burchuladze and Murtaz Zodelava and Bacho Akhalaia, architect of the former UNM government's repressive apparatus, ahead of the upcoming local elections scheduled for Saturday.

In his remarks, Matikashvili noted that attempts to come to power through chaos, violation of the law, violence and revolutions would be met very adequately and legally by the state.

“Let them understand once and for all and get it into their heads - the Georgian Government will be changed through elections. Elections are the only legal resource, the only legal opportunity to come to power by gaining the trust of the public. Any other way in this direction is a violation of the Constitution. Seeking to come to power with revenge - through chaos, violation of the law, force and violence, staging revolutions, naturally, all this will be met very adequately, fairly and legally by the state”, he concluded.