2016-09-14
We are ensuring peaceful elections, but the Government of Georgia will exercise every right prescribed by law to ensure against all forms of radicalization, Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili said in his comment for the press.
The Head of Government emphasized that, when discussing possible destabilization, the Interior Minister relied on particular information which he is not obligated to disclose.
According to Giorgi Kvirikashvili, there is information that the radicalization of the situation serves the interests of certain political forces, namely the United National Movement, and authorities must make a preemptive statement to ensure against tensions in any form.
"As for the Interior Ministry being on heightened alert, I believe it is of vital importance to ensure peaceful elections free of any tensions, which is something that must be done. We must reject counter-rallies altogether, and we are ready to offer all political forces a memorandum on the rejection of counter-rallies. Whenever a given political force is meeting its voters, all opposing political forces must abstain from delegating their representatives to the same location, which is necessary if we want to avoid agitation and quarrels," the Prime Minister stated.
To avoid tensions, the Head of Government ordered the law enforcements to mobilize in the territories adjacent to venue for campaigning. However, the Prime Minister also points out that this decision in nowise involves any pressure.
"The time when the Interior Ministry was running elections is history. It will never happen again in Georgia. There is no room for alluding or drawing parallels. We are talking about avoiding tensions, ensuring peace ahead of election day, holding elections, and making sure that the first round, as well as the period between the first and second rounds, is equally peaceful and free of disturbance," Giorgi Kvirikashvili stated.
According to the Prime Minister's assessment, it would be advisable for representatives of the opposition, who have already made their chose in this election, to abstain from attending rallies held by other political forces, while undecided voters, who are free to attend any meeting, should abstain from provocations. The Head of Government emphasizes that his address primarily concerns the supporters of the ruling party, though it also involves the opposition.
"In case of provocations, it would be prudent to have police forces at hand, to avoid confrontations," the Prime Minister stated.
According to Giorgi Kvirikashvili's comment, authorities has information about the National Movement establishing such organizations as "In the Name of Loyalty to Georgia" that seek to radicalize the situation in Georgia, including vehicles used to block exits and entrances, and the like.
The Prime Minister stressed that this information was obtained lawfully.
"We are not obligated to disclose all information, but this particular intelligence has come to our knowledge, and we will not let anyone instigate destabilization in Georgia. I would like to address our opponents and say that it is not 2003, or any other period when things like this used to happen, so there is no room for drawing parallels. Today we are capable of defending the progress achieved by Georgia and the path chosen by our country, the path of democracy, freedom of speech, and human rights. We will not let anyone make Georgia stray from this path. The police forces will exercise every legal right to ensure against tensions," the Prime Minister said.
Prime Minister's Press Office