Opposition condemns Georgian State Security’s allegations, accuses Gov’t of suppressing peaceful protests

Irakli Nadiradze, a member of the United National Movement opposition party, criticized the Georgian State Security Service on Wednesday for its recent claims regarding alleged attempts by several groups to stage provocations during ongoing protests in Tbilisi against the ruling party’s proposed foreign transparency bill.

In his remarks, Nadiradze denounced the statement as a desperate move by the government and accused “Russian oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili”- the founder and current honorary chair of the GD – of attempting to quash peaceful demonstrations. He emphasized the peaceful nature of the protests and rejected any insinuation of violence.

Nadiradze highlighted that the protestors were exercising their democratic rights and condemned any unwarranted aggression directed towards them, likening it to tactics employed by the Russian government. He reiterated the protestors’ commitment to non-violent methods and their determination to persist until their demands are addressed.

Paata Manjgaladze, a member of the Strategy Agmashenebeli opposition party, also criticized the state agency for prioritizing “Ivanishvili’s” security over democratic principles. 

He suggested that the Georgian State Security Service itself had become a threat to democracy and urged both the agency and the police to align with the people and reject any efforts to suppress the protests.