GD Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze warned on the briefing that the rally planned for October 4, whose organizers he says include several opposition parties and radical groups, aims to overturn or violently change Georgia’s constitutional order. Kobakhidze described the rally’s declared goal as unconstitutional and said any attempt to carry it out could amount to a criminal offence. He urged political parties and organizers to distance themselves from actions that could lead to violence.
Kobakhidze stressed that peaceful assembly is a democratic right in Georgia, but reiterated that any violent acts will be met with the full force of the law. He noted that, compared with sanctions applied for last year’s violent incidents, penalties for tomorrow’s potential offences could be considerably harsher. The prime minister recalled a recent prosecution related to threats against polling stations as an example of swift legal response to violent or intimidating rhetoric.
Asked about the basis for his statement, Kobakhidze pointed to public calls by rally organizers and other operational information, saying those public declarations alone amount to unconstitutional statements because they openly advocate an unlawful aim. “If they are talking about surprises, any small surprise will be met with our big surprise,” he said, adding that any response will be carried out strictly within the law.
Kobakhidze closed by underlining the government’s position that Georgia’s institutions are strong and united. He appealed to political leaders to prevent escalation, saying the state will not tolerate attempts to overthrow or violently change the constitutional order and that all lawbreakers will face the strictest legal consequences.
