Senior ruling party MP calls Lelo ‘party of liars’ as investigation opened into alleged election pressure

Archil Gorduladze, chairman of Georgia’s parliamentary Legal Affairs Committee, has described the Lelo – Strong Georgia opposition coalition as a “group of liars and disappearing politicians” following the release of an audio recording allegedly showing attempts to pressure, bribe, and intimidate the coalition’s majoritarian candidate ahead of the October 4 municipal elections. 

Gorduladze welcomed the Prosecutor’s Office investigation into the matter, saying it would expose Lelo’s “malicious plans” ahead of the elections.

“Thanks to them, we now have the opportunity to reveal their lies, as well as the actions they have planned for 4 October. They couldn’t even nominate candidates in several dozen municipal elections, yet claims that their candidates had been pressured or bribed is absolute nonsense,” Gorduladze said.

He added that the investigation would shed light on the activities of Lelo and any associated politicians acting as “agents [of foreign influence]”.