Georgian Health Minister Ekaterine Tikaradze has ‘strongly condemned’ the recent replacement of banners encouraging coronavirus vaccination in Georgia with the anti-opposition banners containing hate-speech. 

Tikaradze says that vaccination is among the state’s top priorities now, while the use of hate speech is not civilised in the 21st century when the parties should be engaged with a political dialogue.

She also responded to the opposition’s criticism on the ‘slow rate’ of the vaccination process  and stated that ‘if pro-vaccination campaigning had not been successful, more than 1.7 million individuals would not have been vaccinated.’ 

The minister said that she has no information over the connection of the ruling party with the banners which say ‘no to the United National Movement (UNM), no to evil, no to treason.’ 

Businessman Mikheil Gabriadze says that he is behind the banners which come with red sports and splashes to create the image of blood. 

Gabriadze says that he was the victim of the UNM and that is why he funded the banners ahead of the October 2 municipal elections in Georgia. 

The banners also depict several, non-members of the UNM and ex-PM under the Georgian Dream ruling party Giorgi Gakharia. 

Gabriadze claims that ‘everyone on the banners are allied with the UNM.’