“Kakha Kaladze is not concerned about the fate of Tbilisians. His only concern is maintaining power to continue his criminal activities. Expressing protest can in no way be considered provocation,” said Irakli Kupradze, the joint mayoral candidate of “Lelo-Strong Georgia” and “Gakharia for Georgia,” in a statement to journalists, responding to the events that took place near the election headquarters of “Georgian Dream” mayoral candidate Kakha Kaladze.
According to Kupradze, the confrontation at Kaladze’s headquarters was a directly planned criminal act, orchestrated by Kaladze and the “anti-Georgian Dream.”
“Their sole goal is to instill fear in society, showing that criminals, gangs, and ‘titushky’ are on their side and will attack every citizen who expresses protest, criticism, or opposes the ‘Russian regime.’ It is a fact that this was a violent, pre-planned act, which will be addressed once this country has an independent judiciary, Ministry of Internal Affairs, and Prosecutor’s Office to investigate. Yesterday, we saw frightened police officers who, unfortunately, turned a blind eye to the criminal acts committed by members of Kaladze’s headquarters, including physical assaults and persecution of journalists, media, civil activists, and women, as well as the destruction and seizure of phones and microphones. Kakha Kaladze is not concerned about the fate of Tbilisians. His only concern is maintaining power to continue his criminal activities, which are manifested in extremely high levels of corruption, neglect of citizens’ interests, and the total injustice prevailing in the capital and its institutions, which Kaladze supposedly manages.
Peaceful protest against the ‘anti-Georgian Dream’ is fundamentally important when Bidzina Ivanishvili is destroying our European integration process, and Kakha Kaladze, as one of the party’s leaders, contributes to the rise of corruption, injustice, and lawlessness in the capital and throughout Georgia. Therefore, expressing protest cannot in any way be considered provocation. Protest will continue in this country until Ivanishvili is forced to peacefully hand over power to the Georgian people,” Kupradze stated.
As a reminder, there was noise and a confrontation on Melikishvili Avenue near Kakha Kaladze’s election headquarters. According to rally participants, they were physically assaulted by representatives of the youth wing of “Georgian Dream.” During the physical confrontation, more than 10 rally participants were injured, including media representatives.
Irakli Kupradze: Yesterday, we witnessed a violent, pre-planned act – We saw frightened police officers who turned a blind eye to the criminal acts of Kaladze’s headquarters members – The goal is to instill fear in society
