Ex-top Georgian military commanders denounce provocations, appeal for calm ahead of opposition's planned protest

Two former high-ranking military officers on Thursday issued a joint statement ahead of a rally planned by radical opposition groups on October 4, strongly rejecting any violent actions and urging restraint.

In a social media message, Generals Mamuka Khurashvili and Zaza Gogava said they “categorically repudiate any violent plans” and called on everyone who cares about the country to refrain from provocative actions that are being used against young people.

They urged that future political struggle be carried out by methods that do not harm the nation or its youth.

“We categorically repudiate any violent plans and call on everyone who thinks of the country - not themselves - to refrain from provocative actions that are being foisted on young people, and in the future let us fight by methods that will not damage either the country or our youth”, the statement said.