“Blowing up politician Givi Targamadze’s car that resulted in no casualties, fortunately, three days ahead of the 2016 parliamentary elections was the heavy fact that aimed to affect the outcomes of the elections. The trace of Mikheil Saakashvili and Gia Lortkipanidze behind the fact should become the subject of interest for the investigation,” said Irakli Kobakhidze, Prime Minister and Head of the Georgian Dream’s Election Headquarters during the briefing at the GD party’s central office.

The PM echoed the October 11 briefing of the Prosecutor’s Office on former MP Givi Targamadze’s case.

“You would agree that the person, who is charged for organizing provocation in the pre-election period in 2016 and who faces 18 years in prison, crossed the so-called green border two weeks before the October 26 elections and attempted to enter Georgia illegally. We presume that the person had a similar instruction,” he said.

According to the PM, party ratings are well-known to the radical opposition.

“Pre-election campaign is held in a peaceful environment that reduces success chances of the radicalism-oriented collective National Movement. The election environment is free and competitive as confirmed by the October 11 OSCE/ODIHR report. On this background, the thoughts of the radical opposition are directed to the provocations.

The government is strong and we will not allow anybody to bring disorder. The ruling team will do its best for the election processes to continue in a peaceful environment and allow the voters to make their choice peacefully on October 26. We call on the radical opposition to avoid plotting provocations, the government will strictly respond to any provocation,” the PM stated.

According to the information of the Prosecutor’s office, the person wanted for the attempted murder of Givi Targamadze, a member of the National Movement under aggravating circumstances, provided important information to the investigation.

Prosecutor Amiran Guluashvili noted at the briefing that, according to Darcho Khechuashvili’s testimony, Mikheil Saakashvili gave Givi Targamadze the task of control and surveillance.