Georgian PM vows harsh response to violence at Presidential Palace

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Saturday stressed that stressed that any attempt at violence would be met with the strictest state response, and every individual involved in the violence while storming the presidential palace would be held accountable.

Kobakhidze’s remarks came after radical opposition supporters had stormed the courtyard of the Georgian presidential palace.

“It appears they hoped for a larger turnout today than actually materialised. When they saw that by 8 p.m. the Freedom Square was far from full, they decided to rush and immediately resort to violent actions”, the PM said.

“They announced their intention to overthrow or forcibly change the constitutional order and took specific measures to achieve this. We warned these individuals that the strictest measures would be taken, and those measures are being implemented. Any attempt at violence will be stopped, and strict measures will continue to be enforced in the days ahead. What we saw on Atoneli Street [the presidential palace] constitutes a criminal offense, and every person involved in this violent act will be held responsible. This was a clear and open crime. We have issued strict warnings - any violence on the streets will be met with consequences, and the law will be rigorously enforced against them. I assumed that we would have to arrest far more than 30 shameless aggressors in the face of this violence, but as you can see, the process took a different direction. The rest will face consequences - and those consequences will be severe”, he concluded.