Opposition Girchi Leader: Government deliberately fuels pre-election tensions

Iago Khvichia, the leader of the opposition Girchi party, has accused the ruling government of intentionally stirring up political tension and unrest ahead of the October 26 elections, claiming it is a key part of their campaign strategy.

“If we had a normal political environment, the government would not want tension and chaos before the elections. But here, it’s always the government that creates it,” Khvichia stated on Thursday.

He noted that election laws are supposed to ensure a calm and stable atmosphere, yet the government, according to him, actively seeks confrontation to influence the political climate.

Khvichia also suggested that the ruling party’s focus on dismantling the United National Movement (UNM) party, a major opposition force, is part of a calculated effort to generate pre-election instability.

“The dismantling of the UNM is a central part of their campaign. If they
had wanted to abolish the National Movement, they could have done so when they held a constitutional majority. Instead, they use this narrative to create tension and rally support,” Khvichia noted.

He further criticized this approach, saying that Georgian politics has long been driven by conflict, a trend he traces back to the communist era.

“Since the days of communism, we have always been governed through confrontation. There’s always someone to fight,” the opposition leader stressed.