**Georgian Dream Leader Makes Strong Statements on Local Elections, Opposition, and War**
In a recent interview with the pro-government Rustavi 2 channel, Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze made several strong statements that have sparked controversy in Georgia. The country is set to hold local elections in October, and Kobakhidze expressed confidence that his ruling party will secure a landslide victory, regardless of whether the opposition participates or not.
**Opposition as “Agents”**
Kobakhidze labeled the four main opposition forces that won seats in the last elections as “agents,” suggesting that their presence in local authorities would be detrimental to Georgia’s democracy. He even expressed hope that the opposition would boycott the polls, which he saw as a way to make his party’s job easier.
**Banning Opposition Parties**
The Georgian Dream leader also touched on the ruling party’s plan to ban opposition parties based on the final report of a temporary investigative commission looking into alleged crimes by the United National Movement. Kobakhidze claimed that the process in the Constitutional Court would be completed by the end of this year at the latest.
**Criticism of Giorgi Gakharia**
Kobakhidze lashed out at his former fellow party mate Giorgi Gakharia, now the opposition leader, who testified before a rump parliament’s temporary investigative commission earlier this week. The GD PM accused Gakharia of being influenced by the “deep state” and claimed that the ruling party had agreed to dismiss him as interior minister after the brutal crackdown on protests near Parliament in 2019.
**August War and Giorgi Antsukhelidze**
Kobakhidze’s statements on the August war were also met with criticism. He compared the torture and killing of Giorgi Antsukhelidze, a hero of the war, to an act of “treachery” committed by “agents.” This sparked outrage among many Georgians who saw it as an attempt to distort the country’s history.
**Amendments to Law on Grants**
The GD premier also commented on recently adopted amendments to Georgia’s law on grants, which prohibit foreign donors from giving funds to local organizations without the executive green light. Kobakhidze claimed that this legislation protects Georgian society’s interests and pushed back against criticism from civil society groups who see it as a way for the ruling party to suppress dissent.
**Political Prisoners**
Kobakhidze stated that most of those detained during ongoing protests are “victims” of propaganda, but singled out journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli, saying she is not such a “victim.” He claimed that she had a “task” to downgrade the police and insult their dignity.
**Russia-Georgia Relations**
The GD premier reiterated that restoring diplomatic relations with Russia remains impossible due to the occupation, and that any move in this direction would be a “red line.”
**U.S.-Georgia Relations**
Kobakhidze also repeated the ruling party’s message that resetting relations with the United States depends on the defeat of the “deep state.”
