Mayor Kaladze: October 1 remains landmark date in Georgia’s recent history

Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze has described 1 October 2012, when Georgian Dream won Georgia’s parliamentary elections, as a landmark date in the country’s recent history, highlighting the role of party founder Bidzina Ivanishvili in the political change that followed.

“Fourteen years ago, the Georgian people made a historic choice and entrusted the Georgian Dream with governing the country. Speaking about this day is impossible without noting Bidzina Ivanishvili’s special role,” Kaladze wrote on social media.

He said the political events of 1 October 2012 were linked to Ivanishvili’s decision and to the people who united around him, describing the process as involving significant responsibility and effort.

Kaladze added the Georgian Dream government had faced difficulties, challenges, victories, successes and mistakes over the past 14 years, but argued that its commitment to protecting Georgia’s interests and responsibility towards the population had remained unchanged.

“For me, these years are not only years of politics and being in government. They are years of daily work, caring for the trust of many people and enormous responsibility towards them,” he said.

Kaladze thanked Georgian Dream supporters and members for their trust and support, as well as for what he called “healthy criticism,” and said the party’s main strength would continue to be the Georgian people.

“1 October reminds us where this path began. Fourteen years later, our responsibility is to continue this path to protect Georgia’s peace, sovereignty and national interests,” Kaladze wrote.