Kaladze nominated for Tbilisi mayor amid 246 days of protests

"Georgian Dream" has officially begun preparations for municipal elections, nominating the current head of the city, Kakha Kaladze, as a candidate for Tbilisi mayor for the third time. Supporters of Georgia's European integration continue their protests.

As "Kavkazsky Uzel" reported, on July 30, on the 245th day of continuous protests, participants in the protest at the Georgian parliament demanded that the course toward European integration be resumed.

Protesters in Tbilisi have once again blocked traffic along Rustaveli Avenue near the Georgian Parliament, today is the 246th day of continuous protests, Publika reports.

At the same time, a pre-election event of the Georgian Dream is taking place in Mtatsminda Park, where party secretary Kakha Kaladze has been nominated for the post of mayor of the city for the third time.

In his speech, Kakha Kaladze thanked Bidzina Ivanishvili and the Georgian Dream team for their trust in him, stating that “running for the post of Tbilisi mayor for the third time in a row is a big responsibility,” Pirveli TV reports.

The majority of the opposition democratic forces are boycotting the local elections scheduled for October 4. The leader of the Lelo party, which, despite this decision of the opposition, announced its participation in the municipal campaign, believes that boycotting the elections in Tbilisi will mean support for Kaladze.

“In Tbilisi, 65% of the opposition votes and only 25% for the Georgian Dream. Under these conditions, it is completely unclear why the opposition electorate should give their votes to Kaladze and thereby support the Georgian Dream,” said Mamuka Khazaradze.

* Meta (which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp) is banned in Russia.