President Kavelashvili calls for peaceful elections, claims opposition lacks independence

Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili emphasised the need for peaceful elections and criticised the opposition as inadequate and dependent on foreign forces in a recent interview with Rustavi TV Company.

Kavelashvili stressed the shared responsibility of all citizens and institutions to ensure calm elections.

“Georgian citizens, the president, we all have one obligation: that there be peace, tranquillity in the country, and that citizens have full rights in elections to make free choices according to the constitution and law,” he stated.

In the same interview with Rustavi 2 TV Company, Kavelashvili argued that there is no viable alternative to the ruling Georgian Dream party, describing it as the only balanced, consistent, and strong political force in the country.

“I can boldly say that the only balanced, consistent, strong party is Georgian Dream,” he declared.

“Unfortunately, there is no alternative to Georgian Dream, there is no healthy opposition, which is also important for our country, and the result is the same.”

Kavelashvili criticised opposition forces for what he described as disruptive behaviour, claiming they seek to use political processes for revolutionary purposes.

“There are inadequate people in the opposition who are harming the country. They want to use the presidential institution so that confrontation would occur; they use local government elections for this too, trying to change the political process and develop revolutionary processes,” Kavelashvili said.

The President also addressed his offer of a presidential pardon to opposition political leaders, explaining it was intended to enable their full participation in elections.

“To those political leaders of forces who plan to participate in elections and are currently and fairly behind bars for violating the law and having to serve prison terms, I offer them to use this opportunity,” Kavelashvili stated, encouraging them to prove their worthiness to voters.

The president also claimed that 99% of those active in radical opposition circles are dependent on external forces.

“You cannot name me a single person who independently, based on Georgia’s needs, created some organisation, saw problems, and thereby opposes the government – such does not exist,” he asserted.

Kavelashvili described what he called a “deep state” network, claiming that whether independent experts or organisational representatives, “everyone has some kind of connection, either involved in processes, or through funding, or is a member of an organisation.”

“When should they be exposed? You know, when they begin to gossip. They reveal their true nature when they resort to ridicule—that means the message has hit its mark, especially when they begin mocking about the Deep State,” the President said.

Mikheil Kavelashvili also criticised his predecessor for using the presidential institution for “discreditation” and “polarisation,” violating the constitution.

“My first statement was that I would return the presidential institution to constitutional frameworks, and at this stage, this worked out,” he said.

Regarding his role in the upcoming local elections, Kavelashvili indicated he would serve as an observer like any ordinary citizen.

“We will be observers of this, as the presidential institution. We cannot interfere in the process in any other way, nor is this the president’s business, but I will be an observer, as a citizen,” he explained.