Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Wednesday raised concerns about alleged threats to Bidzina Ivanishvili, the Honorary Chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party, and “radical opposition leaders”, citing different reasons.
In a briefing held at the central office of Georgian Dream, Kobakhidze, who also leads the party’s election staff, detailed the security measures being taken to protect Ivanishvili.
The PM cited recent “violent incidents” in Europe and the United States, including attempted assassination of Slovakia’s prime minister and a US presidential candidate, as justification for heightened security.
“Our political team has implemented exceptional measures to ensure the safety of our Honorary Chairman, who is a key symbol of stability in Georgia,” Kobakhidze said. He noted that the measures included the use of a glass barrier at election rallies and the decision for Ivanishvili to refrain from traveling by helicopter.
Kobakhidze also warned of potential attacks on opposition leaders, particularly those “whose targeting could be used by the National Movement and its allies to discredit the electoral process and the government”.
He cautioned against any attempts to “artificially create chaos”, drawing comparisons to past incidents such as the Khorava Street crime back in 2017, when two minors were killed, and subsequent turmoil.
“We urge everyone to remain vigilant and properly assess any provocations from the radical opposition,” Kobakhidze said. He emphasized that any attempts to incite unrest or disrupt the stability of the country would be met “with severe consequences”.
In response to Kobakhidze’s statements, Grigol Vashadze, a representative of the Unity – National Movement, has scheduled a briefing for today, where he is expected to address the Prime Minister’s remarks.
