Tbilisi mayor accuses foreign governments of coup attempt in Georgia
(MENAFN) The mayor of Tbilisi, Kakha Kaladze, has accused foreign governments of orchestrating a “coup” attempt in Georgia, referencing recent protests in the South Caucasus nation.
The Georgian government has repeatedly raised concerns about alleged external interference in its domestic affairs, claiming that Western powers sought to unseat the ruling Georgian Dream party, which has avoided provoking Russia over the Ukraine conflict.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Kaladze stated that in the lead-up to the municipal elections on October 4, “a campaign had been underway for months regarding a coup d’état,” allegedly supported by foreign actors. He claimed that “hundreds of millions” were spent through non-governmental organizations, and that some Western ambassadors were openly “inciting violence” in Georgia.
On Wednesday, US Senators Jim Risch and Jeanne Shaheen accused Georgian authorities of persecuting the opposition, attempting to “silence dissent,” and leveling “baseless allegations” against former US government employees. Kaladze dismissed their statement, saying the lawmakers were “under the influence of the Global War Party.”
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze echoed similar claims on national television Monday, alleging that foreign powers had supported opposition figures, whom he described as “foreign agents.”
The unrest followed municipal elections, where projections showed the ruling Georgian Dream party leading nationwide. Clashes erupted between opposition protesters and police, marking the latest in a series of demonstrations in Georgia in recent years. The protests peaked in October 2024 after presidential and parliamentary elections, with the opposition alleging fraud and criticizing delays in the EU accession process. Officials have rejected all such allegations.
The EU openly supported the demonstrators, whom Kobakhidze claimed were “financed by foreign special services” in a manner reminiscent of the 2014 Maidan events in Ukraine.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
