The law works equally for everyone. It’s very regrettable; I don’t rejoice in anyone’s arrest, and it’s sad. We must try to restrain ourselves from such incidents. Violence is bad and unwelcome, stated Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze, referring to the fact that three people were detained in connection with the events that unfolded on Melikishvili Avenue on September 8-9.
Regarding the direct question about Megi Diasamidze, who was detained on charges of damaging the election banner of Kakha Kaladze, the “Georgian Dream” candidate for Tbilisi mayor, specifically “why she was justified,” Kaladze responds: “Did I justify it or did she justify herself?”
“In general, there is a law that will definitely be enforced. Whether it’s imprisonment or release to house arrest, the judge will decide that. The fact is very bad. Identification was made, and the person is detained. Besides this person, there were others who damaged the banner. From what we heard from the agency, only 1 person was detained. Why?! Identification could not be made. We all must respect the law. There is no need for attacks. Did the headquarters attack that person, or did they damage the headquarters themselves?” Kaladze noted.
As the capital’s mayor emphasized, the circulated information that the banners were illegally hung is false.
“If you believe Abesadze, it won’t bring you anything good. His intellectual capacity and intellect won’t be useful to you. I’ve been in politics since 2012 and have a lot of experience. Believe Abesadze, and you might end up where you are today. Of course, permission from the municipality is not required; it requires the owner’s permission, and we have it, since we have a rented space. Hanging a banner doesn’t pose a problem,” Kaladze noted.
According to him, the election campaign continues, and “disorder cannot be introduced into it.”
“They won’t stop us, nor will they introduce disorder. We are continuing the election campaign,” Kakha Kaladze stated.
For information, the Ministry of Internal Affairs detained three people as part of the investigation launched into the events that unfolded on September 8-9 of this year in Tbilisi, on Melikishvili Avenue.
According to the ministry’s statement, those detained on charges of group violence are Z.M., born in 1965, and I.B., born in 2003, while I.D., born in 2002, was detained on charges of damaging or destroying property. According to the investigation, the detainees Z.M. and I.B. physically assaulted participants in the protest action on September 8 on Melikishvili Avenue. As for I.D., she damaged the election banner of the “Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia” party’s candidate for Tbilisi mayor on Melikishvili Avenue.
Kakha Kaladze on the person detained for damaging his election banner: Did I justify it or did she justify herself? – The law works equally for everyone; it’s very regrettable, I don’t rejoice in anyone’s arrest
