Georgian PM urges law enforcement to prevent election provocations

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has urged the country's law enforcement agencies to exercise “extraordinary” caution to prevent possible “provocations" ahead of October 26 parliamentary elections.

Prime Minister Kobakhidze’s remarks came in light of allegations from the Prosecutor General’s Office regarding possible connections between imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili and the 2016 attempted murder of his former ally, Givi Targamadze, a member of the opposition UNM party, in Tbilisi prior to the parliamentary elections that year, Caliber.Az reports via Georgian media.

Kobakhidze noted, “In his testimony, the accused Darcho Khechuashvili, a former employee of the Georgian Interior Ministry, confirmed that he was assigned to observe Givi Targamadze with the involvement of both Mikheil Saakashvili and Gia Lortkipanidze, the former Deputy Interior Minister of Georgia, who currently holds a position in Ukrainian military intelligence. 

The explosion of Targamadze’s vehicle, fortunately resulting in no casualties, was a serious incident occurring just three days before the 2016 parliamentary elections, likely intended to influence the electoral outcome.”

He emphasized that “the revelation of Saakashvili and Lortkipanidze’s involvement in this crime raises significant concerns and should be a focal point of the investigation. It is peculiar that an individual accused of orchestrating such a serious pre-election provocation in 2016—who now faces an 18-year prison sentence in Georgia—attempted to cross the border illegally just two weeks before the parliamentary elections on October 26.”

Kobakhidze suggested, “It is reasonable to infer that someone might undertake such an action only under duress or coercion.”

Speaking to the media at the Georgian Dream party's election office, the Prime Minister reaffirmed the government's commitment to preventing any attempts to disrupt order in the country and asserted that the ruling party would exert all efforts to ensure a peaceful electoral process for voters.

He referenced a report released by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, highlighting that the electoral environment is both “free and competitive” and taking place in an “unprecedentedly peaceful atmosphere.”

Kobakhidze remarked, “The radical opposition is acutely aware of the ruling Georgian Dream party’s popularity, with current ratings around 60 per cent. The collective National Movement and its affiliated opposition groups are destined for yet another defeat, marking their ninth electoral loss. This awareness explains why their discussions are centered on staging provocations aimed at altering the course of the elections.”

By Vafa Guliyeva