“The government will not tolerate disorder, war, or the compromise of our country’s interests. The radical opposition and their foreign patrons need to recognize this,” stated Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze during a session of the Tbilisi City Assembly (Sakrebulo).
Reflecting on the past year, Kaladze asserted that despite facing challenges, pressure, and provocations, 2024 is a year of development for the country.
“The attempt to instigate an overthrow did not begin today or yesterday. Preparations for this have been underway for years, particularly following the events in Ukraine when foreign forces expressed their desire to use Georgia as a pawn for their interests. The Georgian Dream party, which rejected the weakening of our country and the fulfilment of foreign instructions at the risk of its destruction, has proven unacceptable to these foreign influences. The government has faced unprecedented pressure and was compelled to act against peaceful interests in favour of the agendas of larger nations that threatened our security. A misstep could have led to disaster.
Our political team demonstrated immense responsibility, communicating to the world that we uphold our principles in protecting our nation and state. The Georgian people recognized these geopolitical challenges and entrusted us with the mandate to govern for the next four years in the parliamentary elections. I want to extend my gratitude to the 1.2 million individuals who made the right choice. The majority of Sakrebulo members contributed to this victory, which rightfully belongs to the majority of our nation’s population.
This pressure continues. Many wish to strip the Georgian people of their choice and transfer power to negative forces that have been rejected by the populace rather than allowing the legitimately elected party to govern.
I assure you, this will not happen. We will not compromise our country’s interests. We will stand firm for the future of our nation and its national interests. We will not permit disorder, war, or the sale of our interests, whether through internal attempts or foreign directives. This will not come to pass, and the radicals and their foreign supporters must acknowledge that,” he reiterated.
According to Mayor Kaladze, the Georgian Dream party has never deviated from its commitment to the European path.
“We aspire to join Europe. However, we will not allow anyone to exploit this ambition for their narrow partisan interests or to use it as a tool for blackmail. Our goal of joining the European Union should not be treated as a trap designed to deceive us like children. The false narratives we have heard from certain politicians are simply misleading,” Kaladze emphasized.
The Mayor also noted that Georgia has been harmed by delays in the opening of accession negotiations, recalling former European Commission Vice-President Josep Borrell’s remark that Georgia was in a state of “darkness.”
“Is this a reflection of European fairness? This is a rhetorical question. The response came from the Prime Minister’s statement on November 28 when we decided to hold the EU accountable for this situation. We declared that the fate of these negotiations rests with them, and it should not become a matter of political speculation. They have the ability to open negotiations at any time, and the Georgian government stands ready to sign that document. Constant blackmail and manipulation are categorically unacceptable. So, what triggered the wave of protests? Clearly, this was part of a premeditated plan orchestrated for the post-election period,” Kaladze concluded.