"Georgian Dream" accuses its opponents of cooperation with Russian political technologists

On November 5, on the "Imedi" TV Channel, Bidzina Ivanishvili, the leader of the "Georgian Dream" Party, addressed residents of Georgia. In his address, he focused on Grigol Vashadze, a candidate from the "United National Movement" (UNM) Party, reports the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, who translated the politician's statement.

In particular, Bidzina Ivanishvili has stated that in case of his win, Grigol Vashadze intends to pardon the prisoners.

"They are openly talking about pardon for people accused of torturing people and similar crimes. Apart from insulting the people, that can directly provoke destabilization of the situation," Bidzina Ivanishvili said.

Besides, on November 5, Irakli Kobakhidze, the chair of the Georgian parliament, the executive secretary of the "Georgian Dream" Party, stated that the electoral office of candidate Grigol Vashadze invited Russian political technologists, headed by Vitaly Shklyarov.

"Why don't you see here the problem of Russian 'soft power' and the danger of Russian propaganda? I believe everything is as clear as day, what we are dealing with. However, as Mrs Salome Zurabishvili said, Grigol Vashadze and the Russians will not return to Georgia," said Irakli Kobakhidze.

In his turn, Grigol Vashadze said on the air of the "Imedi" TV Channel that Vitaly Shklyarov was not a Russian political technologist, but he found that difficult to say if there were Russian citizens in his team.

As for the pardon of prisoners, at a briefing held on November 5, Grigol Vashadze noted that it would affect only prisoners not posing a danger to society.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on November 6, 2018 at 02:38 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.