Ex-Pres Saakashvili: ‘those calling for a halt serving Ivanishvili’s interests’

Georgia’s former president, Mikheil Saakashvili, has accused those urging an end to the current protest movement of acting in favour of ruling party founder Bidzina Ivanishvili. In a social media post on Tuesday, Saakashvili suggested that such calls may not be made “selflessly.”

“Those who are now calling for a halt are doing Ivanishvili’s work - and I doubt it’s without personal gain. There is an attempt to replace the genetic code of Georgians,” Saakashvili wrote.

He warned that stopping now, when “victory is so close,” would be unacceptable. “We are fighting, and we will win,” he declared, drawing a parallel with recent events in Madagascar.

“The President of Madagascar, after months of protests, was forced to flee the country yesterday,” Saakashvili added.