Georgian PM: those involved in operations ordered by foreign intelligence services will receive proper response

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Sunday said his Government would firmly defend national interests and respond decisively to any attempts organised by foreign intelligence services against the state.

“The state will stand firm. We will defend national interests everywhere. Those who participate in operations ordered by foreign intelligence services will receive a proper response”, the PM said.

He further stressed that all those who had attempted to act against the state would face the strictest consequences.

“Those who tried to raise a hand against our state during a rally organized by foreign intelligence services will receive the harshest response. Georgia is not a country where foreign intelligence services can be allowed to overthrow the government. Yesterday’s attempted coup was a continuation of the so-called 300-day protest organized by these services - there is a direct and logical connection between the small-scale 150-person demonstrations and yesterday’s attempted overthrow. From this, I want everyone to draw conclusions about what our Government’s policy will be toward foreign agents and collaborators of foreign intelligence services. We will be uncompromising toward any form of violence. The state will stand firm. We will defend national interests everywhere. Those involved in foreign-orchestrated operations will all receive an appropriate response”, Kobakhidze concluded.

Radical opposition supporters on Saturday stormed the courtyard of the Georgian presidential palace.

The protesters damaged the barriers and managed to enter the courtyard, but the riot police managed to remove the demonstrators from the scene.