Georgia’s ruling party Sec-Gen accuses UK embassy of fuelling political division

Kakha Kaladze, incumbent Tbilisi mayor and Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party, has accused the British Embassy in Georgia of encouraging political division and unrest, following a meeting between opposition figures Giga Bokeria and Gia Baramidze at the embassy.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Kaladze said it was “not surprising” that the two opposition politicians had visited the embassy, suggesting they were “receiving directives from their patrons”.

He claimed that parts of the diplomatic corps were actively “encouraging social division, confrontation and attempts to stage a revolution”, and singled out the British Embassy as “one of the leading actors” in this.

Kaladze also criticised recent remarks by UK MP James McCleary, who had called for potential sanctions against Georgian Dream founder Bidzina Ivanishvili and for the release of people detained during anti-government protests.

“How many times are you going to sanction Bidzina Ivanishvili?” Kaladze asked, dismissing such statements as “based entirely on lies and slander”. He argued that those described as political prisoners had attacked police officers during protests, including with stones and Molotov cocktails.

“Our partner is the Georgian people, and no one should think this country will be governed from outside,” he added. “This country is governed by the Georgian people, and it will never be otherwise.”