Irakli Kupradze, the unified candidate for Tbilisi Mayor, continues his visit to Brussels alongside the leaders of “Strong Georgia-Lelo.” This information was released by the press service of “Strong Georgia-Lelo.”
According to their statement, following a face-to-face meeting with the Mayor of Brussels, Philippe Close, the “Strong Georgia-Lelo” delegation is meeting with political partners and working on deepening cooperation.
“Over the past two days in Brussels, we have had extremely important political meetings where we are engaging with our political partners.
When Kobakhidze and Kaladze make incomprehensible statements, they speak from their own perspective. Today, neither Kaladze nor Kobakhidze can go out and talk freely with the public in the streets, metro, markets, or bus stops, whereas we go everywhere, freely meet with citizens, and receive their goodwill.
They cannot meet our Western partners in the European Union, but we manage to do both because today, we, our coalition ‘Strong Georgia-Lelo,’ together with Gakharia’s team, stand by the side of citizens to protect their interests. We are fighting on every front, including in local elections. Yesterday, we received clear and unequivocal support from the Mayor of Brussels, including for my candidacy and our struggle. The Mayor of Brussels is the main political figure in the European capital, shaping the political mood here, and he is connected to the European Parliament, the European Commission, the Council of Europe, and so on. We provided them with information and presented the differing positions in society regarding the boycott and elections, but his stance is clear, complete, and unequivocal – full support for our electoral fight, in which we are currently engaged.
With the Mayor of the European capital and in political circles, we discuss everything, including real needs, political prisoners, and the repressions that ‘Georgian Dream’ has unleashed against Georgian citizens in our country. But above all, we talk about Tbilisi – today, my politics is Tbilisi and the real needs of Tbilisians. Tbilisi must become a European city, and the support from our European partners is crucial and decisive in this. Brussels should become Tbilisi’s main ally. Our capital can seize this opportunity! We agreed on cooperation in education, healthcare, labor, and all types of collaboration that can benefit the capital. We talk everywhere about Tbilisi’s real needs, real cooperation, and they are ready for this cooperation, ready to provide political support.
For example, if Tbilisians decide to go to the elections and reject the corrupt, Russian-backed government, the Mayor of the European capital is ready to hold another meeting in Tbilisi in just a few weeks, where Tbilisians will receive the support of the government of the European capital.
Kaladze, as a corrupt mayor fulfilling Russian orders, cannot come to Europe and instead meets with Russian athletes, meeting Russians everywhere because he represents a Russian government. Meanwhile, we are meeting with the leadership of Brussels and the European capital, political leaders here who are ready to stand by Georgia, stand by Tbilisi, and strengthen the capital. What we see in this city now is exactly what Tbilisi needs – solving traffic congestion, greening, social welfare, transport policy, and educational spaces that exist here. They are ready to share this experience with us and provide resources to support Tbilisi’s development. This is the main connection we must create and strengthen! We have this communication and trust from their side, while Kaladze only has the trust of Putin’s Russia!
Today, Georgia has an illegitimate government that lacks legitimacy from the people but speaks in their name. Our team’s goal, with the support of Gakharia’s team, is to take away the main stronghold of the Russian regime – Tbilisi. We must remember that in the new political and legal context, the Mayor of Tbilisi will be the highest legitimately elected public political figure, as we no longer elect the president directly. I guarantee that, with a pro-Western opposition mayor, I will be able to bring the issues important to Georgian citizens not only to the capital but also to the main political platforms, speaking about the real needs of Tbilisians and half of Georgia’s population, stating that we need support from the European Union and the Western world. We need real political pressure on ‘Georgian Dream,’ like a millstone that grinds them down and holds them accountable. Therefore, this political legitimacy, which the pro-Western opposition can gain by going to the elections on October 4 and then taking to Rustaveli Avenue, is crucial. Tbilisians must not miss the chance to create a source of legitimacy within their own ranks that can speak on their behalf.
Tbilisi must seize this opportunity to create, within its own ranks, the highest politically legitimate, directly elected pro-Western opposition mayor and then use it to free Georgia from the Russian regime!” stated Irakli Kupradze.
Irakli Kupradze: Today, my politics is Tbilisi – the Mayor of Brussels is ready to hold another meeting in Tbilisi, where Tbilisians will receive the support of the government of the European capital
