Tbilisi mayor vows to serve nation’s interests despite challenging conditions

The Georgian authorities will always serve the interests of their nation even under complicated working conditions and certain pressures.

The remarks came from the Tbilisi mayor Kakha Kaladze on the air of local Imedi TV, Caliber.Az reports.

"Who can convince us that if we do not sell Georgian wine or agricultural products to Russia, we will damage the Russian economy? On the contrary, we will harm needy people who work 24 hours a day to bring home bread," he said.

He says he is accused of being "Russian, not European" because he wants peace and economic development in the country.

"If I want European integration, it does not mean that I have to give up my identity, my past, my traditions, my culture, which I am proud of," Kaladze said.

The Tbilisi mayor also reacted to the results of social studies published by NDI and IRI, stating that studies by American organisations cannot be reliable as they often have a 30-40 per cent margin of error compared to real data.

"Let's look at the statistics - these organisations have been conducting research for years - how can you trust a research organisation that has a 30-40 per cent margin of error? That is why these studies are trying to manipulate society, although [Georgian] society actually sees what is happening in the country, what situation we have to live and work in," Kaladze said.