Tbilisi Mayor: No One Will Be Allowed to Cause Unrest
By Tea Mariamidze
Thursday, October 18
Tbilisi Mayor, Kakha Kaladze announced that no one will be allowed to cause unrest in the capital, adding public order will be highly ensured by appropriate agencies.
Kaladze’s statement followed the released information that the parliamentary opposition United National Movement (UNM) plans to hold a march-manifestation on October 19, 20 and 21 at Freedom Square and Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi. The mayor said the party has already applied Tbilisi City Hall with a corresponding letter.
“In the letter they said that around 100,000 supporters of the opposition will take to the streets and this will create problems for transport and pedestrians,” he stressed.
Tbilisi Mayor said that the planned activity was an attempt of radicalism on part of the National Movement Party.
According to Kaladze, the party was trying to cause tension with pre-election propaganda by speculating with different issues and high-profile cases.
“Freedom of expression is fully protected in our country and the opposition party will be allowed to hold the demonstration. If there is a need to block roads, the roads will be blocked and appropriate agencies of the City Hall will take care of the issue,” he noted, adding it is likely that the UNM will try to stir confrontation during the upcoming march.
In response to the Mayor, the UNM stated they have not planned a march during the reported period.
Zurab Melikishvili, member of the UNM says that their presidential candidate Grigol Vashadze will hold meetings in western Georgia and therefore the party will be with him.
“The Mayor’s address is unclear for us as we, including the United Opposition, have not made any statement that we plan to hold a manifestation. If we plan anything like this, we will inform the society about this,” he explained.
