Incumbent Tbilisi Mayor Kaladze: it is categorically unacceptable for groups to harass, insult people working at election headquarters

Incumbent Tbilisi Mayor and ruling party candidate Kakha Kaladze on Tuesday condemned an incident that took place outside his election headquarters on Melikishvili Avenue on Monday, where a confrontation occurred between a group of individuals and staff members.

“Have you ever seen my election headquarters staff go to Rustaveli Avenue, where people are protesting, and insult anyone or use offensive language? Categorically unacceptable is when a few agitators show up at our headquarters and insult people working there,” Kaladze told reporters.

He said the incident was a “deliberate provocation”, not the first of its kind. “This is our headquarters. As you know, the election campaign is underway, and people are working here. We do not storm anyone’s offices; we do not attack anyone. It is unimaginable to be in the middle of an election campaign and have several violent individuals disrupt your work and insult you. Clearly, the purpose of these actions is to artificially create tension, because no one cares about the shouting and screaming of 30 agitators. This group includes violent people,” Kaladze stated.

The Mayor also expressed hope that international organisations, including the EU Ambassador, would evaluate the incident.