Ruling party officials: cursing of rally attendees by Samgori governor was “freedom of expression in non-working hours”

Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze and the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party Irakli Kobakhidze said on Tuesday that the recent insulting words towards the participants of the pro-EU rally in Tbilisi on June 20 by Samgori district governor Kakha Samkharadze “was freedom of expression” and that his post was released on “non-working hours.” 

Samkharadze cursed the participants of the rally “Home to Europe” calling hem di*k, and then deleted his Facebook post.

“Maybe I did not like this statement, someone may like it – it is his personal space and he can write what he wishes there. Freedom of speech and expression is protected at the highest level in this country,” said Kaladze.

Kobakhidze suggested that everyone could express their mind in non-working hours. 

Thousands of Georgians attended the rally yesterday. 

Initially Kobakhidze said that it was the United National Movement’s rally. 

However, the ruling party MPs said today that the voters of all parties, as well as apolitical citizens, attended the demonstration ahead of the EU’s decision on Georgia’s candidate status this week.