Violence to face severe penalties at opposition rally, PM Kobakhidze

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has warned that an opposition rally planned for tomorrow was aimed at overthrowing the country’s constitutional order, describing it as both unconstitutional and potentially a criminal offense.

Speaking at a government briefing on Friday, Kobakhidze said that the announced purpose of the rally was “to overthrow or violently change Georgia’s constitutional system.” He added that responsibility for organizing or supporting the demonstration had been claimed by the United National Movement, Ahali, Lelo, as well as several smaller parties and what he called “radical and extremist organizations funded from foreign sources.”

“The very objective of this rally is unconstitutional, and any attempt to carry it out may be qualified as a criminal act,” Kobakhidze said.

The PM stressed that any violent incidents linked to the demonstration would be subject to harsher criminal charges than those imposed following last year’s protests. He recalled that offenders in 2024 received prison sentences ranging from two to four and a half years, but warned that tomorrow’s offenses could trigger “much stricter” punishments under Georgia’s Criminal Code.

Kobakhidze also cited a recent case in which a man was charged after releasing a video threatening to storm polling stations. He reminded the public that such crimes carried penalties of up to four years in prison.