PM Kobakhidze slams opposition, says Georgia must end ‘artificially imposed’ hatred

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has criticized opposition parties while calling for efforts to eliminate what he described as “artificially imposed” hatred and aggression in Georgian society.

Speaking to Georgian journalists during his official visit to Kazakhstan on Tuesday, Kobakhidze commented on the state of the opposition, singling out former United National Movement chairman Levan Khabeishvili.

“The fact that Levan Khabeishvili appears to be one of the smartest figures in that spectrum speaks for itself about the difficult situation within what I call the agent network,” Kobakhidze said.

He added that recent developments demonstrated “a deep internal crisis” within the opposition.

The prime minister also stressed the importance of combating hate speech, saying the government considers the work of Georgia's recently established Hate Speech Department to be a priority.

“This process is extremely important to ensure healthy relations in our country and society. For years, hatred and aggression have been imposed on us, primarily through foreign funding, and this must come to an end,” Kobakhidze said.

He argued that such rhetoric is incompatible with Georgian culture and said the government would continue to prioritize efforts to counter it.

“Everything must be done to end the artificially imposed hatred and aggression in our country. The work of this department is of particular importance, and its activities will continue to receive special attention,” the prime minister said.