Opposition Tbilisi mayoral team threatens to paralyse Tbilisi if elected

Opposition mayoral candidate Irakli Kupradze and vice mayoral candidate Aleko Elisashvili have said that, if victorious in the upcoming local elections in October, they plan to paralyse the city.

Kupradze, representing Lelo – Strong Georgia and Gakharia for Georgia, has promised to hold sanctioned evening protests on Rustaveli Avenue and to free 40,000 public servants from political constraints, while Elisashvili warned that municipal services could go on strike.

“I promise, as Tbilisi’s opposition, pro-Western mayor, I will do everything necessary, and fear nothing, to respond to the Russian government and the Russian-aligned city authorities. From October 5, imagine an opposition, pro-Western mayor holding sanctioned protests every evening. I will call these protests to gain public support, and 40,000 public servants will be free,” he said.

Kupradze said he would free public servants from political constraints, but clarified that this would not affect employees who competently perform their duties.

Elisashvili added “if we wake up in a Tbilisi led by Kupradze with the opposition controlling the council, the next day could see strikes and organised protests. Municipal services might stop functioning entirely”.