Incumbent Tbilisi Mayor pledges ‘all illegal acts will face response’ after opposition leader’s arrest

Incumbent Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze has commented on the detention of opposition politician Elene Khoshtaria, saying that “any unlawful actions will be met with an appropriate response.”

“It is clear that these people are of no interest to anyone. They have been removed from the public agenda. No one cares about their daily actions carried out alongside violent groups. They simply want to remind the public of their existence through committing offences. There is specific footage showing violations, and everyone will face the appropriate response,” Kaladze told reporters.

Khoshtaria, a leader of the Coalition for Change and founder of the Droa party, was detained earlier on Monday.

Investigators accuse her of damaging a campaign banner of Kaladze ahead of October 4 municipal elections. The case is being pursued under Article 187 of Georgia’s Criminal Code, which concerns damage or destruction of property.