Zugdidi: The leader of one of the main opposition parties UNM (United National Movement) of Georgia accused the Ruling party Georgian Dream for violence. They accused the Georgian Dream backed gangs for attacking their workers in Zugdidi.
Ana Tsitlidze,a leader of the United National Movement party from Zugdidi held a brief media conference about this. According to her paid anti-criminal elements have attacked her and party members. She also accused the GD-backed criminals of attacking the youth members associated with the United National Movement party.
She alleged that the incident happened on September 19, 2024. She also displayed a video in which attackers were seen. In these videos many people confronted UNM members. They also used abusive language against the UNM members who were campaigning for the party.
Tsitlidze, during the briefing further revealed that “our party members have been attacked by those who were directly linked with the ruling party Georgian Dream. They were under the influence of narcotics when they attacked our members.”
She also showed a picture of one attacker who, according to her is close to GD. While speaking further on the matter, she blamed a relative of Interior Minister Vakhtang Gomelauri, Shota Bajaladze a member of the General Inspection Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
She also disclosed the names of other accused she identified, including Goga Mosia who is currently the Deputy Director of the Arts and Culture Development Centre in Zugdidi. The video footage of the incident reflected that all the accused were very aggressive.
UNM accused the attacker of not just attacking its workers but also the locals who had not committed anything wrong. Many ordinary citizens arrived to meet UNM officials and were attacked by these GD-backed accused. The police seemed to be helpless to control anti-social elements.
Meanwhile the ministry of internal affairs of Georgia issued a statement in this regard. As per the statement from the Minister an investigation under article 126 of Georgia’s criminal code has been ordered.
