Georgian Parliament Speaker promises end to turmoil, hatred, violence after October 4 elections

Following the October 4 local elections, political polarisation in Georgia will remain only in the form of marginal radical groups that society should demonstratively ignore, Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Thursday said.

In his interview with Imedi TV, Papuashvili noted that the radical groups were seeking to keep the country in a state of constant tension.

“We must look ahead. On October 4, people will come out to vote. Let them count how many hundreds of thousands of Georgian citizens will cast their ballots and make their voices heard - whether they count in Georgian, English, or German. Georgian citizens will turn out democratically, express their will, and respond to everyone - both inside and outside the country - for the shameful behavior we witnessed over the past year, from certain Georgian citizens acting against our nation and from foreigners attempting to harm our country”, the Speaker said.

He further stressed that the elections would mark the end of “hatred, violence, and attempts to drag Georgia into turmoil”.

“From October 4 onward, all branches of Government will be fully focused on building our country and achieving our two main national goals: restoring Georgia’s territorial integrity and improving the well-being of our people”, he concluded.