Opposition mayoral candidate slams incumbent Kaladze of broken promises over Tbilisi hippodrome project

Irakli Kupradze, the joint mayoral candidate of Lelo – Strong Georgia and For Georgia, has accused incumbent Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze of “lying to voters” over the fate of the city’s hippodrome site, which was promised in 2020 to be transformed into a central park.

Speaking at a briefing near the site on Thursday, Kupradze said the hippodrome remains “barren” five years later, calling Kaladze’s record “a campaign of lies, disinformation and propaganda.”

He also alleged that former prime minister Bidzina Ivanishvili had profited from the land, selling the forested section of the hippodrome to private developers, despite presenting it to the public as a “gift” to the city.

“The choice on 4 October is clear – support the pro-European opposition and reject the Russian regime,” Kupradze told supporters, urging continued protest against the ruling Georgian Dream party.